his　shell；　made　as　many　objections　as　any　fine　lady；　and　showed　the　more　lack　of　mind　and　character　because　his　face　and　manner　had　seemed　to　promise　them。　Corentin　smiled　with　pity　when　he　saw　the　face　he　made　on　tasting　the　best　cider　of　Normandy。
  〃Heu！〃　he　cried；　〃how　can　you　swallow　such　stuff　as　that？　It　is　meat　and　drink　both。　I　don't　wonder　the　Republic　distrusts　a　province　where　they　knock　their　harvest　from　trees　with　poles；　and　shoot　travellers　from　the　ditches。　Pray　don't　put　such　medicine　as　that　on　the　table；　give　us　some　good　Bordeaux；　white　and　red。　And　above　all；　do　see　if　there　is　a　good　fire　upstairs。　These　country…people　are　so　backward　in　civilization！〃　he　added。　〃Alas！〃　he　sighed；　〃there　is　but　one　Paris　in　the　world；　what　a　pity　it　is　I　can't　transport　it　to　sea！　Heavens！　spoil…sauce！〃　he　suddenly　cried　out　to　the　cook；　〃what　makes　you　put　vinegar　in　that　fricassee　when　you　have　lemons？　And；　madame；〃　he　added；　〃you　gave　me　such　coarse　sheets　I　couldn't　close　my　eyes　all　night。〃　Then　he　began　to　twirl　a　huge　cane；　executing　with　a　silly　sort　of　care　a　variety　of　evolutions；　the　greater　or　less　precision　and　agility　of　which　were　considered　proofs　of　a　young　man's　standing　in　the　class　of　the　Incroyables；　so…called。
  〃And　it　is　with　such　dandies　as　that；〃　said　Corentin　to　the　landlord　confidentially；　watching　his　face；　〃that　the　Republic　expects　to　improve　her　navy！〃
  〃That　man；〃　said　the　young　sailor　to　the　landlady；　in　a　low　voice；　〃is　a　spy　of　Fouche's。　He　has　'police'　stamped　on　his　face；　and　I'll　swear　that　spot　he　has　got　on　his　chin　is　Paris　mud。　Well；　set　a　thief　to　catch〃
  Just　then　a　lady　to　whom　the　young　sailor　turned　with　every　sign　of　outward　respect；　entered　the　kitchen　of　the　inn。
  〃My　dear　mamma；〃　he　said。　〃I　am　glad　you've　come。　I　have　recruited　some　guests　in　your　absence。〃
  〃Guests？〃　she　replied；　〃what　folly！〃
  〃It　is　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；〃　he　said　in　a　low　voice。
  〃She　perished　on　the　scaffold　after　the　affair　of　Savenay；　she　went　to　Mans　to　save　her　brother　the　Prince　de　Loudon；〃　returned　his　mother；　rather　brusquely。
  〃You　are　mistaken；　madame；〃　said　Corentin；　gently；　emphasizing　the　word　〃madame〃；　〃there　are　two　demoiselles　de　Verneuil；　all　great　houses；　as　you　know；　have　several　branches。〃
  The　lady；　surprised　at　this　freedom；　drew　back　a　few　steps　to　examine　the　speaker；　she　turned　her　black　eyes　upon　him；　full　of　the　keen　sagacity　so　natural　to　women；　seeking　apparently　to　discover　in　what　interest　he　stepped　forth　to　explain　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil's　birth。　Corentin；　on　the　other　hand；　who　was　studying　the　lady　cautiously；　denied　her　in　his　own　mind　the　joys　of　motherhood　and　gave　her　those　of　love；　he　refused　the　possession　of　a　son　of　twenty　to　a　woman　whose　dazzling　skin；　and　arched　eyebrows；　and　lashes　still　unblemished；　were　the　objects　of　his　admiration；　and　whose　abundant　black　hair；　parted　on　the　forehead　into　simple　bands；　bought　out　the　youthfulness　of　an　intelligent　head。　The　slight　lines　of　the　brow；　far　from　indicating　age；　revealed　young　passions。　Though　the　piercing　eyes　were　somewhat　veiled；　it　was　either　from　the　fatigue　of　travelling　or　the　too　frequent　expression　of　excitement。　Corentin　remarked　that　she　was　wrapped　in　a　mantle　of　English　material；　and　that　the　shape　of　her　hat；　foreign　no　doubt；　did　not　belong　to　any　of　the　styles　called　Greek；　which　ruled　the　Parisian　fashions　of　the　period。　Corentin　was　one　of　those　beings　who　are　compelled　by　the　bent　of　their　natures　to　suspect　evil　rather　than　good；　and　he　instantly　doubted　the　citizenship　of　the　two　travellers。　The　lady；　who；　on　her　side；　had　made　her　observations　on　the　person　of　Corentin　with　equal　rapidity；　turned　to　her　son　with　a　significant　look　which　may　be　faithfully　translated　into　the　words：　〃Who　is　this　queer　man？　Is　he　of　our　stripe？〃
  To　this　mute　inquiry　the　youth　replied　by　an　attitude　and　a　gesture　which　said：　〃Faith！　I　can't　tell；　but　I　distrust　him。〃　Then；　leaving　his　mother　to　fathom　the　mystery；　he　turned　to　the　landlady　and　whispered：　〃Try　to　find　out　who　that　fellow　is；　and　whether　he　is　really　accompanying　the　young　lady；　and　why。〃
  〃So；〃　said　Madame　du　Gua；　looking　at　Corentin；　〃you　are　quite　sure；　citizen；　that　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　is　living？〃
  〃She　is　living　in　flesh　and　blood　as　surely；　/madame/；　as　the　citizen　du　Gua　Saint…Cyr。〃
  This　answer　contained　a　sarcasm；　the　hidden　meaning　of　which　was　known　to　none　but　the　lady　herself；　and　any　one　but　herself　would　have　been　disconcerted　by　it。　Her　son　looked　fixedly　at　Corentin；　who　coolly　pulled　out　his　watch　without　appearing　to　notice　the　effect　of　his　answer。　The　lady；　uneasy　and　anxious　to　discover　at　once　if　the　speech　meant　danger　or　was　merely　accidental；　said　to　Corentin　in　a　natural　tone　and　manner；　〃How　little　security　there　is　on　these　roads。　We　were　attacked　by　Chouans　just　beyond　Mortagne。　My　son　came　very　near　being　killed；　he　received　two　balls　in　his　hat　while　protecting　me。〃
  〃Is　it　possible；　madame？　were　you　in　the　mail…coach　which　those　brigands　robbed　in　spite　of　the　escort；the　one　we　have　just　come　by？　You　must　know　the　vehicle　well。　They　told　me　at　Mortagne　that　the　Chouans　numbered　a　couple　of　thousands　and　that　every　one　in　the　coach　was　killed；　even　the　travellers。　That's　how　history　is　written！　Alas！　madame；〃　he　continued；　〃if　they　murder　travellers　so　near　to　Paris　you　can　fancy　how　unsafe　the　roads　are　in　Brittany。　I　shall　return　to　Paris　and　not　risk　myself　any　farther。〃
  〃Is　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　young　and　handsome？〃　said　the　lady　to　the　hostess；　struck　suddenly　with　an　idea。
  Just　then　the　landlord　interrupted　the　conversation；　in　which　there　was　something　of　an　angry　element；　by　announcing　that　breakfast　was　ready。　The　young　sailor　offered　his　hand　to　his　mother　with　an　air　of　false　familiarity　that　confirmed　the　suspicions　of　Corentin；　to　whom　the　youth　remarked　as　he　went　up　the　stairway：　〃Citizen；　if　you　are　travelling　with　the　female　citizen　de　Verneuil；　and　she　accepts　the　landlord's　proposal；　you　can　come　too。〃
  Though　the　words　were　said　in　a　careless　tone　and　were　not　inviting；　Corentin　followed。　The　young　man　squeezed　the　lady's　hand　when　they　were　five　or　six　steps　above　him；　and　said；　in　a　low　voice：　〃Now　you　see　the　dangers　to　which　your　imprudent　enterprises；　which　have　no　glory　in　them；　expose　us。　If　we　are　discovered；　how　are　we　to　escape？　And　what　a　contemptible　role　you　force　me　to　play！〃
  All　three　reached　a　large　room　on　the　upper　floor。　Any　one　who　has　travelled　in　the　West　will　know　that　the　landlord　had；　on　such　an　occasion；　brought　forth　his　best　things　to　do　honor　to　his　guests；　and　prepared　the　meal　with　no　ordinary　luxury。　The　table　was　carefully　laid。　The　warmth　of　a　large　fire　took　the　dampness　from　the　room。　The　linen；　glass；　and　china　were　not　too　dingy。　Corentin　saw　at　once　that　the　landlord　had；　as　they　say　familiarly；　cut　himself　into　quarters　to　please　the　strangers。　〃Consequently；〃　thought　he；　〃these　people　are　not　what　they　pretend　to　be。　That　young　man　is　clever。　I　took　him　for　a　fool；　but　I　begin　to　believe　him　as　shrewd　as　myself。〃
  The　sailor；　his　mother；　and　Corentin　awaited　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　whom　the　landlord　went　to　summon。　But　the　handsome　traveller　did　not　come。　The　youth　expected　that　she　would　make　difficulties；　and　he　left　the　room；　humming　the　popular　song；　〃Guard　the　nation's　safety；〃　and　went　to　that　of　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　prompted　by　a　keen　desire　to　get　the　better　of　her　scruples　and　take　her　back　with　him。　Perhaps　he　wanted　to　solve　the　doubts　which　filled　his　mind；　or　else　to　exercise　the　power　which　all　men　like　to　think　they　wield　over　a　pretty　woman。
  〃May　I　be　hanged　if　he's　a　Republican；〃　thought　Corentin；　as　he　saw　him　go。　〃He　moves　his　shoulders　like　a　courtier。　And　if　that's　his　mother；〃　he　added；　mentally；　looking　at　Madame　du　Gua；　〃I'm　the　Pope！　They　are　Chouans；　and　I'll　make　sure　of　their　quality。〃
  The　door　soon　opened　and　the　young　man　entered；　holding　the　hand　of　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil；　whom　he　led　to　the　table　with　an　air　of　self…conceit　that　was　nevertheless　courteous。　The　devil　had　not　allowed　that　hour　which　had　elapsed　since　the　lady's　arrival　to　be　wasted。　With　Francine's　assistance；　Mademoiselle　de　Verneuil　had　armed　herself　with　a　travelling…dress　more　dangerous；　perhaps；　than　any　ball…room　attire。　Its　simplicity　had　precisely　that　attraction　which　comes　of　the　skill　with　which　a　woman；　handsome　enough　to　wear　no　ornaments；　reduces　her　dress　to　the　position　of　a　secondary　charm。　She　wore　a　green　gown；　elegantly　cut；　the　jacket　of　which；　braided　and　frogged；　defined　her　figure　in　a　manner　that　was　hardly　suitable　for　a　young　girl；　allowing　her　supple　waist　and　rounded　bust　and　graceful　motions　to　be　fully　seen。　She　entered　the　room　smiling；　with　the　natural　amenity　of　women　who　can　show　a　fine　set　of　teeth；　transparent　as　porcelain　between　rosy　lips；　and　dimpling　cheeks　as　fresh　as　those　of　childhood。　Having　removed　the　close　hood　which　had　almost　concealed　her　head　at　her　first　meeting　with　the　young　sailor；　she　could　now　employ　at　her　ease　the　various　little　artifices；　apparently　so　artless；　with　which　a　woman　shows　off　the　beauties　of　her　face　and　the　grace　of