It was the American’s four-in-hand.

He was driving himself, and on his left sat a young and pretty woman, exquisitely dressed in white.

The newcomers were at once shown into the huge kitchen, which served also as a reception room.  On the hearth burned a small bundle of scented herbs which filled the whole room with fragrance.  Yollande was sitting in her usual place.

“Well, Madame, have you at last decided to let me have the curly-haired hen?”

Mother Etienne neither moved nor answered.

“See here, Madame, I offer you $4,000, $6,000, $8,000,” and so saying he took from a red morocco pocketbook in banknotes the sums he mentioned, and spread them out on the table before the astonished eyes of Mother Etienne and Germaine.

Mother Etienne still shook her head in refusal.

Germaine, driven wild by this sight, began to exclaim:  “Yes, sir,—­yes, Madame.  Yes, sir,—­yes, Madame,” and threw herself into the arms first of the American, and then of Mother Etienne, who still remained obdurate.

Miss Booum, taking Mother Etienne’s hand, said coaxingly:  “You can safely trust her to me.  I will take care of her myself, Madame.  With us she will become famous throughout the world.  All the newspapers will speak of her.  From your poultry-yard she will come into contact with the greatest courts of the world.  She will be petted by Grand Duchesses, and receive hands.  Besides all this she will be in good company and will have plenty to amuse her.”

This pleading succeeded in dragging from Mother Etienne the longed-for “Yes,” which, though stifled by emotion, was seized upon by the American.

The good woman had said “Yes,” she had conquered the selfishness of a mother for two reasons.  She did not want to prevent Yollande from getting on in the world, and also she wished to let Germaine share this fortune, for it was owing to her that the hen had become so valuable, and she did not think it right to deprive her of the benefit.

[Illustration:  Miss Booum brings Mother Etienne to the circus tent.]

“That’s all settled, then.  Here’s the contract,” said the American, “you have only to sign it.”  And a receipt duly prepared was handed to Mother Etienne, who in a trembling hand appended her signature and a flourish.  I don’t know that she did not even embellish it with a huge blot of ink.

Then Miss Booum stooped and gently took under her arm Yollande, who oddly enough made no resistance.

“Oh please, please let me kiss her again,” and, tears in her eyes, Mother Etienne tenderly embraced the Cochin-China.

“You will take great care of Yollande, won’t you?  You will send me news of her?  Where is she to sleep to-night?”

“Oh, as to that, Madame, would you like to see the place prepared for her?  Come with us.  There is room in the carriage and I promise to have you brought back again at once.  The camp is not far from here, the road is good, the horses fast, and in half an hour at most you will be perfectly reassured and can return with your mind at rest.”