Here the napkins
were not tied in knots, but were always clean. And, though the
little plates of radishes, cakes, and dried fruits were continued
from one of the tables to the other, the long-necked thin bottles of
common wine came to an end before they reached the strangers'
portion of the board; for it had been found that strangers would
take at that hour either tea or a better kind of wine than that
which Michel Voss gave to his accustomed guests without any special
charge. When, however, the stranger should please to take the
common wine, he was by no means thereby prejudiced in the eyes of
Madame Voss or her husband. Michel Voss liked a profit, but he
liked the habits of his country almost as well.
One evening in September, about twelve months after the departure of
George, Madame Voss took her seat at the table, and the young men of
the place who had been waiting round the door of the hotel for a few
minutes, followed her into the room. And there was M. Goudin, the
Cure, with another young clergyman, his friend.
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