This idea made her laugh.  Then she came out of the storeroom, wiping her feet, and holding up her skirts to keep them from the filth.  Marjolin blew out the candle and locked the door.  Lisa felt rather nervous at finding herself in the dark again with this big young fellow, and so she hastened on in front.

“I’m glad I came, all the same,” she presently said, as he joined her.  “There is a great deal more under these markets than I ever imagined.  But I must make haste now and get home again.  They’ll wonder what has become of me at the shop.  If Monsieur Gavard comes back, tell him that I want to speak to him immediately.”

“I expect he’s in the killing-room,” said Marjolin.  “We’ll go and see, if you like.”

Lisa made no reply.  She felt oppressed by the close atmosphere which warmed her face.  She was quite flushed, and her bodice, generally so still and lifeless, began to heave.  Moreover, the sound of Marjolin’s hurrying steps behind her filled her with an uneasy feeling.  At last she stepped aside, and let him go on in front.  The lanes of this underground village were still fast asleep.  Lisa noticed that her companion was taking the longest way.  When they came out in front of the railway track he told her that he had wished to show it to her; and they stood for a moment or two looking through the chinks in the hoarding of heavy beams.  Then Marjolin proposed to take her on to the line; but she refused, saying that it was not worth while, as she could see things well enough where she was.

As they returned to the poultry cellars they found old Madame Palette in front of her storeroom, removing the cords of a large square hamper, in which a furious fluttering of wings and scraping of feet could be heard.  As she unfastened the last knot the lid suddenly flew open, as though shot up by a spring, and some big geese thrust out their heads and necks.  Then, in wild alarm, they sprang from their prison and rushed away, craning their necks, and filling the dark cellars with a frightful noise of hissing and clattering of beaks.  Lisa could not help laughing, in spite of the lamentations of the old woman, who swore like a carter as she caught hold of two of the absconding birds and dragged them back by the neck.  Marjolin, meantime, set off in pursuit of a third.  They could hear him running along the narrow alleys, hunting for the runaway, and delighting in the chase.  Then, far off in the distance, they heard the sounds of a struggle, and presently Marjolin came back again, bringing the goose with him.  Mother Palette, a sallow-faced old woman, took it in her arms and clasped it for a moment to her bosom, in the classic attitude of Leda.

“Well, well, I’m sure I don’t know what I should have done if you hadn’t been here,” said she.  “The other day I had a regular fight with one of the brutes; but I had my knife with me, and I cut its throat.”