English
Asthemayorwasabouttositdowntobreakfast,wordwasbroughttohimthattheruralpoliceman,withtwoprisoners,wasawaitinghimattheHoteldeVille.
HewentthereatonceandfoundoldHochedurstandingguardbeforeamiddle-classcouplewhomhewasregardingwithasevereexpressiononhisface.
Theman,afatoldfellowwitharednoseandwhitehair,seemedutterlydejected;whilethewoman,alittleroundaboutindividualwithshiningcheeks,lookedattheofficialwhohadarrestedthem,withdefianteyes.
"Whatisit?Whatisit,Hochedur?"
Theruralpolicemanmadehisdeposition:
Hehadgoneoutthatmorningathisusualtime,inordertopatrolhisbeatfromtheforestofChampiouxasfarastheboundariesofArgenteuil.
Hehadnotnoticedanythingunusualinthecountryexceptthatitwasafineday,andthatthewheatwasdoingwell,whenthesonofoldBredel,whowasgoingoverhisvines,calledouttohim:
"Here,DaddyHochedur,goandhavealookattheoutskirtsofthewood.Inthefirstthicketyouwillfindapairofpigeonswhomustbeahundredandthirtyyearsoldbetweenthem!"
Hewentinthedirectionindicated,enteredthethicket,andthereheheardwordswhichmadehimsuspectaflagrantbreachofmorality.
Advancing,therefore,onhishandsandkneesasiftosurpriseapoacher,hehadarrestedthecouplewhomhefoundthere.
Themayorlookedattheculpritsinastonishment,forthemanwascertainlysixty,andthewomanfifty-fiveatleast,andhebegantoquestionthem,beginningwiththeman,whorepliedinsuchaweakvoicethathecouldscarcelybeheard.
"Whatisyourname?"
"NicholasBeaurain."
"Youroccupation?"
"Haberdasher,intheRuedesMartyrs,inParis."
"Whatwereyoudoinginthewoods?"
Thehaberdasherremainedsilent,withhiseyesonhisfatpaunch,andhishandshangingathissides,andthemayorcontinued:
"Doyoudenywhattheofficerofthemunicipalauthoritiesstates?"
"No,monsieur."
"Soyouconfessit?"
"Yes,monsieur."
"Whathaveyoutosayinyourdefence?"
"Nothing,monsieur."
"Wheredidyoumeetthepartnerinyourmisdemeanor?"
"Sheismywife,monsieur."
"Yourwife?"
"Yes,monsieur."
"Then--then--youdonotlivetogether-inParis?"
"Ibegyourpardon,monsieur,butwearelivingtogether!"
"Butinthatcase--youmustbemad,altogethermad,mydearsir,togetcaughtplayingloversinthecountryatteno'clockinthemorning."
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