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In a word, every particular, even down to the servant Perrine, whom the boys of the choir took such delight in teasing. The remembrance of these times of happiness and innocence frequently returning to my mind, both ravish and affect me. I lived at Annecy during a year without the least reproach, giving universal satisfaction.
He was quite willing, and for one whole day Perrine enjoyed the comfort of lying stretched out on the straw, behind two good trotting horses. At Essentaux she slept in a barn. The next day was Sunday, and she was up bright and early and quickly made her way to the railway station. Handing her five francs to the ticket seller she asked for a ticket to Picquigny.
He sat huddled up in his big chair, his head drooped forward on his chest. He gave no sign of life. Perrine, terrified, wondered if he were dead. Then suddenly he pulled himself together and the tears began to run down his wrinkled cheeks. He brushed them aside quickly and touched the electric bell which communicated with Talouel's and his nephew's offices.
Although little Perrine gave this reply in a very gentle voice, the blind man knew that he would gain nothing by hurrying her. "You are right," he said; "not being in French, you must understand it thoroughly before you can explain it to me. You'd better take the letter and go into Bendit's office; translate it as accurately as you can, writing it out so that you can read it to me.
She had finished her dinner some time ago, and if she remained in her corner she would soon awaken their suspicions. It was a quiet evening. The people sat at their street doors chatting. After Rosalie had finished her errand she wanted to go from one door to another to gossip, but Perrine had no desire for this, and she excused herself on the plea of being tired. She did not want to go to bed.
"Why shouldn't they be glad that you should come and take the place of the son they have lost? You don't know what it is to be alone in the world." "Yes, I do ... I know only too well what it is," replied Perrine. "Youth who has a future ahead is not like old age, which has nothing before it but Death." She looked at him. She did not take her eyes from his face, for he could not see her.
After a time Talouel came to tell his employer that out of the six children that they had thought were dead, three had been found in the homes of neighbors, where they had been carried when the fire first broke out. The burial for the other three tiny victims was to take place the next day. When Talouel had gone, Perrine, who had been very thoughtful, decided to speak to M. Vulfran.
With him business came before everything; his nephew, the son of whichever one happened to be visiting there, came to luncheon and dinner and remained the evening as late as he wished, but that was all. M. Vulfran spent his hours at the office just the same and Perrine was always with him, so Madame Bretoneux was not able to follow up her investigations on the "little tramp" as she had wished.
"Oh, yes; you would have loved her," cried Perrine; "my darling mother." "Talk to me about her," said the old man, "about them both." "Yes," said Perrine; "I will make you know her and then you will love her."
"Oh, thank you," said Perrine; "but M. Vulfran might need me." "Well, in that case you had better go back," said Mlle. Belhomme. When she reached the chateau she saw that M. Vulfran had no need of her, that he was not even thinking of her.
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