THE FALSE ZOUAVE rg

Lory’s old wife thought to herself
as she looked at him:

‘Whatever has happened to him?

. Perhaps he has some bad news
from the regiment, which he doesn’t
want to tell me?... perhaps the
eldest boy is ill... .’

But she dared not ask, and only
busied herself trying to silence the
three little creatures with fair hair like
ripe corn, who laughed around the
cloth, devouring a capital salad of
black radishes and cream.

At last the blacksmith pushed his
plate away in a rage:

‘ Ah, the rascals! The scoundrels !’

‘Who’s angered you then, Lory?’

He broke out:

‘Who’s angered me !’ he said; ‘ why,
five or six rogues who have been rolling
about the town since the morning,
dressed like French soldiers and arm-
in-arm with Bavarians. . . . Some of
these fellows who have .. . what's
their jargon? ... chosen for the