"
"Yes, so would I, even without salt," added the tyrant, "for my stomach
is empty. I could welcome now an omelette such as they gave us this
morning, and swallow it without winking, though the eggs were so far
gone that the little chicks were almost ready to peep."
By this time de Sigognac also had taken refuge behind the
chariot--Isabelle having been driven from her seat in front to a place
in the interior by the increasing violence of the storm-and Blazius said
to him, "This is a trying time, my lord, and I regret very much that
you should have to share our bad fortune; but I trust it will be only of
brief duration, and although we do get on but slowly, still every step
brings us nearer to Paris."
"I was not brought up in the lap of luxury," de Sigognac answered, "and
I am not a man to be frightened by a few snowflakes and a biting wind;
but it is for these poor, suffering women that I am troubled; they are
exposed to such severe hardships--cold, privations, fatigue--and we
cannot adequately shelter and protect them, do what we will."
"But you must remember that they are accustomed to roughing it, my dear
baron, and what would be simply unendurable to many of their sex, who
have never been subjected to such tests, they meet bravely, and make
light of, in a really remarkable manner.
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