However, I owe myself to my customers as well, do I not?
One must try to please everybody." M.de Guersaint, who also was fond of a chat, thereupon began to question him: "You lodge some of the pilgrims, I suppose ?" "Oh! we all lodge some of them, monsieur; it is necessary for the town," replied the barber.
"And you accompany them to the Grotto ?" At this, however, Cazaban revolted, and, holding up his razor, he answered with an air of dignity "Never, monsieur, never! For five years past I have not been in that new town which they are building." He was still seeking to restrain himself, and again glanced at Pierre, whose face was hidden by the newspaper.

The sight of the red cross pinned on M.de Guersaint's jacket was also calculated to render him prudent; nevertheless his tongue won the victory.

"Well, monsieur, opinions are free, are they not ?" said he.

"I respect yours, but for my part I don't believe in all that phantasmagoria! Oh I've never concealed it! I was already a republican and a freethinker in the days of the Empire.

There were barely four men of those views in the whole town at that time.