But, you know, I don't care a
button about the matter. As for that little Madame Menoux, it's here
to-day and gone to-morrow. She has her business, and I have mine. And
you, too, have yours, and so much the better if you get as much out of it
as you can."
But La Couteau changed the conversation by asking the maid if she could
not give her a drop of something to drink, for night travelling did upset
her stomach so. Thereupon Celeste, with a laugh, took a bottle half-full
of malaga and a box of biscuits from the bottom of a cupboard. This was
her little secret store, stolen from the still-room. Then, as the other
expressed a fear that her mistress might surprise them, she made a
gesture of insolent contempt. Her mistress! Why, she had her nose in her
basins and perfumery pots, and wasn't at all likely to call till she had
fixed herself up so as to look pretty.
"There are only the children to fear," added Celeste; "that Gaston and
that Lucie, a couple of brats who are always after one because their
parents never trouble about them, but let them come and play here or in
the kitchen from morning till night. And I don't dare lock this door, for
fear they should come rapping and kicking at it.
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