Judas slung his gun over his shoulder and walked rapidly up the avenue.
"Who can it be that Michu is angry with ?" said Marthe to her mother.
"Ever since he heard of Monsieur Malin's arrival he has been gloomy," replied the old woman.

"But it is getting damp here, let us go in." After the two women had settled themselves in the chimney corner they heard Couraut's bark.
"There's my husband returning!" cried Marthe.
Michu passed up the stairs; his wife, uneasy, followed him to their bedroom.
"See if any one is about," he said to her, in a voice of some emotion.
"No one," she replied.

"Marianne is in the field with the cow, and Gaucher--" "Where is Gaucher ?" he asked.
"I don't know." "I distrust that little scamp.

Go up in the garret, look in the hay-loft, look everywhere for him." Marthe left the room to obey the order.

When she returned she found Michu on his knees, praying.
"What is the matter ?" she said, frightened.
The bailiff took his wife round the waist and drew her to him, saying in a voice of deep feeling: "If we never see each other again remember, my poor wife, that I loved you well.