"This was no dream," retorted Willan. "She was so near me I heard thepanting breath with which she cried out and fled when I made a steptowards her."

"Gentlemen, will it please you to walk in to supper?" exclaimed Victor,appearing in the doorway with a clean green apron on, and no trace, inhis smiling and obsequious countenance, of the rage in which he had beena few minutes before.

A second talk with Jeanne after Victorine had left the kitchen hadproduced a very deep impression on Victor's mind. He was now as eager asJeanne herself for the meeting between Victorine and Willan Blaycke.

The pigeons were not burned, after all. Most savory did they smell, andWillan Blaycke and his friend fell to with a will.

"Saidst thou not thou hadst some of thy famous pear cider left,landlord?" asked Willan.