bottle of white wine with one half brandy. Do it neatly, and put the three bottles on the empty cask which stands by the cellar door. When you hear me open the window in the kitchen come out of the cellar, run to the stable, saddle my horse, mount it, and go and wait for me at Poteaudes-Gueux—That little scamp hates to go to bed,” said Michu, returning; “he likes to do as grown people do, see all, hear all, and know all. You spoil my people, pere Violette.”      

       “Goodness!” cried Violette, “what has loosened your tongue? I never heard you say as much before.”      

       “Do you suppose I let myself be spied upon without taking notice of it? You are on the wrong side, pere Violette. If, instead of serving those who hate me, you were on my side I could do better for you than renew that lease of yours.”      

       “How?” said the peasant, opening wide his avaricious eyes.     

       “I’ll sell you my property cheap.”      

       “Nothing is cheap when we have to pay,” said Violette, sententiously.     

       “I want to leave the neighborhood, and I’ll let you have my farm of Mousseau, the buildings, granary, and cattle for fifty thousand francs.”      

       “Really?”      

       “Does that suit you?”      

       “Hang it! I must think—”      

       “We’ll talk about it—I shall want earnest money.”      

       “I have no money.”      

       “Well, a note.”      

       “Can’t give it.”      

       “Tell me who sent you here to-day.”      

       “I am on my way back from where I spent this afternoon, and I only stopped in to say good-evening.”      

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