Then the doughty
Dard seemed no longer master of his limbs: he rose slowly, with his eyes
fastened to hers, and was moving off like an ill-oiled automaton in the
direction indicated; but at that a suppressed snigger began to shake
Riviere's whole body till it bobbed up and down on the seat. Dard turned
to him for sympathy.
"There, citizen," he cried, "do you see that imperious gesture? That
means you promised to dig in the aristocrat's garden this afternoon,
so march! Here, then, is one that has gained nothing by kings being put
down, for I am ruled with a mopstick of iron. Thank your stars, citizen,
that you are not in may place."
"Dard," retorted Jacintha, "if you don't like your place, I'd quit it.
There are two or three young men down in the village will be glad to
take it."
"I won't give them the chance, the vile egotists!" cried Dard. And he
returned to the chateau and little odd jobs.
Jacintha hung behind, lowered her eyes, put on a very deferential
manner, and thanked Edouard for the kind sentiments he had uttered; but
at the same time she took the liberty to warn him against believing the
extravagant stories Dard had been telling about her mistress's poverty.
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