“That makes no difference to me.”

“Has Monsieur le Maire reflected that we are in the middle of winter?”

M. Madeleine did not reply. The Fleming resumed:⁠—

“That it is very cold?”

M. Madeleine preserved silence.

Master Scaufflaire continued:⁠—

“That it may rain?”

M. Madeleine raised his head and said:⁠—

“The tilbury and the horse will be in front of my door tomorrow morning at half-past four o’clock.”