第43章IntheWood
Asthemayorwasabouttositdow,whttohimthattheruralpoli,withtwoprisoners,wasawaitinghimattheHoteldeVille。HeweondfoundoldHguardbeforeamiddle-hewasregardingwithasevereexpressiononhisface。
Theman,afatoldfellowwitharedehair,seemedutterlydejected;whilethewoman,alittleroundaboutindividualwithshiningcheeks,lookedattheofficialwhohadarrestedthem,withdefianteyes。
"Whatisit?Whatisit,Hochedur?"
Theruralpolimadehisdeposition。
Hehadgomathisusualtime,irolhisbeatfromtheforestofChampiouxasfarastheboundariesehingunusualiryexceptthatitwasafineday,andthatthewheatwasdoihesonofoldBredel,whowasgoingoverhisviohim:
"Here,DaddyHoandhavealookattheoutskirtsofthewood。Ihicketyouwillfindapairofpigeonswhomustbeahuhirtyyearsoldbetwee;
&hedirediteredthethidthereheheardwordswhichmadehimsuspectaflagrantlbreaorality。Advang,therefore,onhishandsaosurpriseapoacher,hehadarrestedthehefoundthere。
Themayorlookedattheculpritsinastohemaainlysixty,andthewomanfifty-fiveatleast,aoquestionthem,beginningwiththeman,whorepliedinsuchaweakvoicethathecouldscarcelybeheard。
"Whatisyour;
"NicholasBeaurain。"
"Youro?"
"Haberdasher,iyrs,inParis。"
"Whatwereyoudoinginthewood?"
Thehaberdasherremaihhiseyesonhisfatpaundhishandshangingathissides,andthemayorued:
"Doyoudenywhattheoffiunicipalauthoritiesstates?"
";
"Soyoufessit?"
"Yes,mo;
"Whathaveyoutosayinyourdefe;
"Nothi;