"Oh! the families--that is, the women and children, for we took the
men for the army. You see, De Beauce," replied Varin, with a
mocking air, as he crossed his thumbs like a peasant of Languedoc
when he wishes to inspire belief in his words, "the families have to
do what the gentlemen of Beauce practise in times of scarcity--
breakfast by gaping! or they can eat wind, like the people of
Poitou: it will make them spit clean!"
De Beauce was irritated at the mocking sign and the proverbial
allusion to the gaping of the people of Beauce. He started up in
wrath, and striking his fist on the table, "Monsieur Varin!" cried
he, "do not cross your thumbs at me, or I will cut them off! Let me
tell you the gentlemen of Beauce do not breakfast on gaping, but
have plenty of corn to stuff even a Commissary of Montreal!"
The Sieur Le Mercier, at a sign from Bigot, interposed to stop the
rising quarrel. "Don't mind Varin," said he, whispering to De
Beauce; "he is drunk, and a row will anger the Intendant. Wait, and
by and by you shall toast Varin as the chief baker of Pharoah, who
got hanged because he stole the King's corn.
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