By way of compensation, the one engrossing subject of conversation in the neighborhood was the dinner given at Goldfish Villa. Pere Ledrux and Poucette repeated to the two friends what was said in Ch.e.l.les on that subject.

"It was a magnificent affair."

"Besides the notable people from this region, there were lots of people from Paris, men especially, all of the best tone and of the most perfect refinement! Some smoked at dessert, but it was only to change the air."

"They had things to eat that no one knew the names of, and wines to drink that looked like liqueurs."

"There was a most beautiful porcelain service. A servant broke a plate on Monsieur Jarnouillard's head; but it did nothing but spoil his coat, which was spoiled already."

"The master of the house nearly strangled eating fish."

"Monsieur Luminot got a little tipsy."

"Madame de Belleville changed her dress after the second course."

"Madame Remplume was sick."

"Monsieur Jarnouillard counted the different dishes of dessert--there were thirty-three."

"They played cards and danced in the evening."

"Monsieur Droguet fell while waltzing."

"They played for infernally high stakes. Madame Droguet lost four francs at lansquenet. But Monsieur Antoine Beaubichon won three at ecarte."

"Everybody went away overflowing with admiration for Monsieur and Madame de Belleville."

Such were the remarks which circulated through the village after the grand banquet. The names of the new owners of the villa were mentioned in Ch.e.l.les only with the most profound respect. Monsieur Remplume even went so far as to remove his hat when he pa.s.sed their house. And when Thelenie pranced through the village on horseback, people ran to their doors and windows to see her pa.s.s, crying:

"There she goes! there she goes! she rides like a dragoon!"

To be sure, there were some urchins who yelled: "_A la chienlit!_" But those unseemly words were drowned by the applause and cheers.

Thelenie continued to gallop by Madame Dalmont's house; but Agathe, instead of watching her, left the window if she were sitting at it, determined that that lady should not have the satisfaction of scrutinizing her as she did before.

One afternoon, when Honorine was sitting alone under the great walnut tree by the roadside, she suddenly heard piercing shrieks not far away.

They evidently proceeded from a child's lips, and the young woman, thinking that someone might be in need of a.s.sistance, hastened down the hill, and saw, some two hundred yards away, a woman on horseback striking with her crop a small boy in whom Honorine instantly recognized the one who had stolen her cherries.

The appearance of a lady on the scene did not calm Thelenie's wrath; she continued to belabor the lost child, exclaiming: "Ah! you won't stand aside when I tell you to look out, won't you? You make signs to show that you aren't afraid of me, and you make faces at me! You little blackguard, I'll teach you to know me and respect me!"

When he caught sight of Madame Dalmont, little Emile ran to her for protection, still making a great outcry, in which there was at least as much anger as pain.

The amazon would have ridden after him, but Honorine barred her way.

"Mon Dieu!" she said, "what has this child done to you, madame, that you should punish him so severely?"

Thelenie eyed Honorine insolently as she retorted:

"What has he done to me? what business is it of yours? If I horsewhip him, it's because I choose to do it, and because he deserves it. What are you meddling for?"

"Meddling--when I defend a child who is being beaten! Evidently, madame, you would see a child overwhelmed with blows without thinking of defending him!"

"What does this mean? that madame is pleased to give me a lesson, perhaps?"

"I might well give you a lesson in politeness, I fancy; for you adopt a tone which is very little in harmony with your costume."

Thelenie bit her lips angrily; then she cried abruptly:

"Ah! you are Madame Dalmont, no doubt?"

"I am Madame Dalmont."

"I might have guessed as much. Ha! ha! ha! I have frequently heard of madame and her little friend, Mademoiselle Agathe! Ha! ha! You ladies are very well known in Ch.e.l.les."

"I think not, madame, as we see very few people."

"But you are much talked about all the same!"

"It is quite possible, madame; there are people whose sole occupation is gossip, slander, calumny. But what comes from the mouths of those people is not worth thinking about, really!"

"Do you mean that for me, madame?"

"How could I mean it for you? I do not know you!"

"I am Madame de Belleville, and I am not in the habit of putting up with an insult from anybody, no matter who it may be."

"And I am Madame Dalmont, and I am not in the habit of fighting because I am not a man."

Thelenie was irritated beyond measure by the young widow's imperturbable calmness.

But while this dialogue was taking place between the two ladies, little Emile, thirsting for revenge for the blows he had received, picked up a large lump of earth and threw it with all his strength at the person who had beaten him. The clod did not reach her, but it struck one of the ears of her horse, and as it broke, spattered and soiled the beautiful blue skirt.

The horse, not expecting the a.s.sault, made a leap side-wise which might well have unseated his rider; but Thelenie, unshaken in her saddle, simply cried out in rage:

"Ah! you little villain!" she shrieked; "this time you shall feel my crop, and you'll keep the marks of it!"

The lost child hid behind Honorine; but that obstacle did not seem to deter Thelenie.

"Stand aside, madame," she cried; "move from in front of that rascal, or I won't be answerable for my horse."

"For heaven's sake, madame, forgive the child!"

"No! no! and if you don't move--So much the worse for you, if you get a taste of the crop too!"

With that the amazon urged her horse upon Honorine and the little boy; but, like the great majority of those n.o.ble-hearted creatures, the horse hesitated, stopped and tried to make a detour in order to avoid running down a woman and a child. The amazon persisted in her attempts to ride him upon them, when suddenly an unexpected defender changed the whole aspect of affairs. Ami rushed down the hill, and without pause or hesitation jumped at the rider, barking in a tone which indicated that he was not in a good humor.

At sight of that magnificent beast, who was doing his utmost to jump upon her, Thelenie, forced to defend herself, tried to strike Ami with her crop. But he cleverly avoided the blows, springing from side to side, but biting the horse at the same time.