It would bring the village to his shop door, precipitate the crisis upon the wrong incident.
As it chanced, only one person in Chaudiere saw the act.

That was Rosalie Evanturel across the way.

She saw the iron raised, and looked for M'sieu' to knock the tailor down; but, instead, she beheld the tailor go back and put the iron on the fire again.

She saw also that M'sieu' was speaking, though she could hear no words.
Charley's words were simple enough.

"I beg your pardon, Monsieur," he said across the room to old Louis; "I meant no offence at all.