be eternally young, she was not, that indeed at her
time of life unruly emotions were apt to ^be ageing;
and since such reflections are very distressing even to
the least conceited of women, Madame Roustan was
feeling decidedly cross, for love unrequited is bad for
the temper. Then, as if to augment her sense of irri-
tation, as she left the Benedifs house with Christophe
she perceived Eusebe standing at his door, and he
looking as knowing as any old monkey.
'Santouno!' exclaimed Eusebe, spitting, the while he
evoked all the female saints,c S antouno! How sprightly
and gay you appear; one would think, Madame, that
you tripped to your wedding. But who was it who
said: "It is easier far to net conger-eels than a wily
fisher55!' For Eusebe could be very spiteful at times,
and moreover he greatly disliked Madame Roustan.
Madame Roustan shrugged her shoulders and would
have passed on, but Eusebe now pretended to play
with the baby: 6Ho, hoi!5 he cried loudly; and again,
€Ho, hoi!5 wagging his head and clapping his hands,
until Christophe, lacking all tact, responded.
Eusebe5s breath smelt of alcohol, and his eye
was blacker than usual with mischief: cDo not hurry
away from a lonely old man; come in and have a small
cognac/ he suggested.
Madame Roustan looked shocked: 'And to think,5
she said sternly, 'that this place where you stand was
once holy ground; to think that your shop was once
part of a convent!5
'That is so,5 he nodded, winking at Christophe, 'and
when I was a lad the good sisters still lived here. Ah,
yes, and I had a great ambition — when one is young
one is drawn to religion/
'And what was this great ambition of yours?'
enquired Madame Roustan, very unwisely.
Then Eusebe chuckled: 'It was this, Madame; I
much longed to sleep with one of the sisters. Houi,
40