le Capitaine did not--'
'Give orders? Well, I give them,' I answered. 'First of all,
remove these beds. And bustle, man, bustle, or I will find
something to quicken you!'
In a moment--'And M. le Capitaine's riding-boots?'
'Place them in the passage,' I replied.
'Oh! in the passage?' He paused, looking at them in doubt.
'Yes, booby; in the passage.'
'And the cloaks, Monsieur?'
'There is a bush handy outside the window. Let them air.'
'Ohe, the bush? Well, to be sure they are damp. But--yes, yes,
Monsieur, it is done. And the bolsters?'
'There also,' I said harshly. 'Throw them out. Faugh! The
place reeks of leather. Now, a clean hearth. And set the table
before the open door, so that we may see the garden--so. And
tell the cook that we dine at eleven, and that Madame and
Mademoiselle will descend.'
'Ohe! But M. le Capitaine ordered the dinner for half-past
eleven.'
'It must be advanced, then; and, mark you, my friend, if it is
not ready when Madame comes down, you will suffer, and the cook
too.'
When he was gone on his errand, I looked round.
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