A SPRING FISHING 29 



No, Monsieur le Maire would not come 

 in, as supper was awaiting himself and 

 the Greffier. Jean Pierre should come in 

 before taking the horse to the stable to 

 have just one glass of cider, while helping 

 to lay out the fish. With many good- 

 nights we parted, and from the door I 

 heard their voices trailing away in the 

 darkness. Could it have been fancy that 

 out of the night came to me again that 

 word asticots? No, for Jean Pierre had 

 heard it too. He chuckled as he took a 

 pinch of snuff from his pouch. He re- 

 garded his pouch significantly, then, 

 looking at me, he solemnly closed one 

 eye and chuckled again. 



