He jumped over into Cochefilet Lane.
Ah, the abomination!
He has stolen our silver!"
The Bishop remained silent for a moment; then he raised his grave eyes, and said gently to Madame Magloire:--
"And, in the first place, was that silver ours?"
Madame Magloire was speechless.
Another silence ensued; then the Bishop went on:--
"Madame Magloire, I have for a long time detained that silver wrongfully. It belonged to the poor.
Who was that man?
A poor man, evidently."
"Alas!
Jesus!" returned Madame Magloire.
"It is not for my sake, nor for Mademoiselle's. It makes no difference to us.
But it is for the sake of Monseigneur.
What is Monseigneur to eat with now?"
The Bishop gazed at her with an air of amazement.
"Ah, come!
Are there no such things as pewter forks and spoons?"
Madame Magloire shrugged her shoulders.
"Pewter has an odor."