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themayorwasabouttositdowntobreakfast,wordwasbroughttohimthattheruraloliceman,withtworisoners,wasawaitinghimattheHoteldeVille.HewentthereatonceandfoundoldHochedurstandingguardbeforeamiddle-classcoulewhomhewasregardingwithasevereexressiononhisface.
Theman,afatoldfellowwitharednoseandwhitehair,seemedutterlydejected;whilethewoman,alittleroundaboutindividualwithshiningcheeks,lookedattheofficialwhohadarrestedthem,withdefianteyes.
"Whatisit?Whatisit,Hochedur?
"
Theruralolicemanmadehisdeosition.
Hehadgoneoutthatmorningathisusualtime,inordertoatrolhisbeatfromtheforestofChamiouxasfarastheboundariesofArgenteuil.Hehadnotnoticedanythingunusualinthecountryexcetthatitwasafineday,andthatthewheatwasdoingwell,whenthesonofoldBredel,whowasgoingoverhisvines,calledouttohim:
"Here,DaddyHochedur,goandhavealookattheoutskirtsofthewood.Inthefirstthicketyouwillfindaairofigeonswhomustbeahundredandthirtyyearsoldbetweenthem!
"
Hewentinthedirectionindicated,enteredthethicket,andthereheheardwordswhichmadehimsusectaflagrantlbreachofmorality.Advancing,therefore,onhishandsandkneesasiftosurriseaoacher,hehadarrestedthecoulewhomhefoundthere.
Themayorlookedattheculritsinastonishment,forthemanwascertainlysixty,andthewomanfifty-fiveatleast,andhebegantoquestionthem,beginningwiththeman,whoreliedinsuchaweakvoicethathecouldscarcelybeheard.
"Whatisyourname?
"
"NicholasBeaurain.
"
"Youroccuation?
"
"Haberdasher,intheRuedesMartyrs,inParis.
"
"Whatwereyoudoinginthewood?
"
Thehaberdasherremainedsilent,withhiseyesonhisfataunch,andhishandshangingathissides,andthemayorcontinued:
"Doyoudenywhattheofficerofthemunicialauthoritiesstates?
"
"No,monsieur.
"
"Soyouconfessit?
"
"Yes,monsieur.
"
"Whathaveyoutosayinyourdefence?
"
"Nothing,monsieur.
"
"Wheredidyoumeettheartnerinyourmisdemeanor?
"
"Sheismywife,monsieur.
"
