'I am in haste, my good woman. Ask thy husband to get on more
quickly. I will pay him double if he makes haste.'
The woman went out to do his bidding; and he once more turned
round to face us. Amante went on to the second part of the tune. He
took it up, whistled a second for an instant or so, and then the
blacksmith's wife re-entering, he moved towards her, as if to
receive her answer the more speedily.
'One moment, monsieur — only one moment. There was a nail out of
the off-foreshoe which my husband is replacing; it would delay
monsieur again if that shoe also came off.'
'Madame is right,' said he, 'but my haste is urgent. If madame
knew my reasons, she would pardon my impatience. Once a happy
husband, now a deserted and betrayed man, I pursue a wife on whom I
lavished all m
