"Ah! my poor fellow," said she, "you're certainly not very shrewd." "But what can one do in a hole like Plassans!" he angrily retorted.

"On my word of honour, I am becoming a fool here.

No news, and everybody shivering! That's what it is to be shut up in these villainous ramparts.
Ah! If I had only been able to follow Eugene to Paris!" Then, seeing that his mother was still smiling, he added bitterly: "You haven't been very kind to me, mother.

I know many things, I do.

My brother kept you informed of what was going on, and you have never given me the faintest hint that might have been useful to me." "You know that, do you ?" exclaimed Felicite, becoming serious and distrustful.