“Vatelputhimselfinthewrong，“hesaid。“IfIwereMotherTonsard，I’dgivemyselfafewwoundsandgotobedandsayIwasill，andhave，thatShopmanandhiskeeperupbeforetheassizesandgettwenty，crownsdamages。MonsieurSarcuswouldgivethem。”
“InanycasetheShopmanwouldgivethemtostopthetalkitwould，make，“saidGodain。
Vaudoyer，theformerfield-keeper，amanfivefeetsixinchestall，withafacepittedwiththesmall-poxandfurrowedlikeanut-cracker，keptsilencewithahesitatingair。
“Well，youoldninny，doesthatruffleyou？”askedTonsard，attracted，bytheideaofdamages。“Iftheyhadbrokentwentycrowns’worthofmy，mother’sboneswecouldturnitintogoodaccount;wemightmakea，finefussforthreehundredfrancs;MonsieurGourdonwouldgotoLes，Aiguesandtellthemthatthemotherhadgotabrokenhip——“
“Andbreakit，too，“interruptedMadameTonsard;“theydothatin，Paris。”