e,
but you are not to be up to any of your tricks."

He did not reply, and as they heard the whistle of the train, he
immediately began to kiss them all. When it came to Rosa's turn, he
tried to get to her mouth, which she, however, smiling with her lips
closed, turned away from him each time by a rapid movement of her head
to one side. He held her in his arms, but he could not attain his
object, as his large whip, which he was holding in his hand and waving
behind the girl's back in desperation, interfered with his efforts.

"Passengers for Rouen, take your seats, please!" a guard cried, and they
got in. There was a slight whistle, followed by a loud whistle, from the
engine, which noisily puffed out its first jet of steam, while the
wheels began to turn a little, with a visible effort, and Rivet left the
station and went to the gate by the side of the line to get another look
at Rosa, and as the carriage full of human merchandise passed him, he
began to crack his whip and to jump, while he sang at the top of his
voice:

"How I regret
My dimpled arms,
My well-made legs,
And my vanished charms."

And then he watched a white pocket-handkerchief, which somebody was
waving, as it disappeared in the distance.

PART III

They slept the peaceful sleep of a quiet conscience, until they got to
Rouen, and when they returned to the house, refreshed and rested,
_Madame_ could not help saying:

"It was all very well, but I was already longing to get home."

They hurried over their supper, and then, when they had put on their
usual light evening costume, waited for their usual customers, and the
little colored lamp outside the door told the passers-by that the flock
had returned to the fold, and in a moment the news spread, nobody knew
how or by whom.

Monsieur Philippe, the banker's son, even carried his forgetfulness so
far, as to send a special messenger to Monsieur Tournevau, who was in
the boson of his family.

The fish-curer used every Sunday to have several cousins to dinner, and
they were having coffee, when a man came in with a letter in his hand.
Monsieur Tournevau was much excited, he opened the envelope and grew
pale; it only contained these words in pencil:

_"The cargo of cod has been found; the ship has come into port; good
business for you. Come immediately."_

He felt in his pockets, gave the messenger two-pence, and suddenly
blushing to his ears, he said: "I must go out." He