The curé's old face wrinkled into smiles.
"It is very interesting, mademoiselle," he said. "And here in Bernay-sur-Mer I fear we know too little of such things." He reached across the fence and laid his hand affectionately on Jean's shoulder. "But it is not quite all our fault, is it, Jean? The _sous_ come hard with the fishing, and we do not have much time for anything outside our own little world. I should greatly like to talk with monsieur, your father. Is it possible that you are to stay a little while here?"
"If we do"--the girl's face was a picture of roguish merriment--"you will not be able to escape him, I promise you, Monsieur le Curé--so beware! But that is our trouble. My father is on what he calls a little holiday--it is really that he needs rest and quiet. For a man of his age, what with his own affairs and his 'art,' he is far too active. Very well. Bernay-sur-Mer is ideal, only--except--Monsieur le Curé, I am sure, will understand--except the Bas Rhône."
"Ah, the Bas Rhône!" said Father Anton. "It is that, then--the Bas Rhône?"
"Exactly!" she smiled. "And so Jean has brought me to you to suggest something else for us."
Father Anton joined his finger tips thoughtfully.
"Yes; I see," he said. "My good friends, the Fregeaus, would do all in their power for you, they are most excellent people; but, yes--h'm--I see. It is a café much more than an inn, and for a café it answers very well; and, after all, it is not their fault that there are not proper accommodations for guests. Yes; I am afraid the accommodations must be very inadequate. But you see, mademoiselle"--Father Anton's voice had a quaint, gentle note of pleading--"we are quite off the main road, and it is rare that a stranger stops in Bernay-sur-Mer, and since they are poor they could not afford, even if they had the money, to make an investment that would bring no return. But something else--h'm! Truly, mademoiselle, I do not know--there is certainly no other place to board."
"Well, a little furnished cottage then," she suggested. "I have my own maid, and, if there were some one else to help a little, nothing would suit us better. Now, Monsieur le Curé, you are not going to be so heartless as to tell me there are no cottages either!"