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Although Caillette did not understand, she saw that there was danger, pressing and immediate, for both Gudel and Fanfar. She waited until La Roulante's heavy breathing showed that she was asleep, and then the young girl cautiously crept from her bed and to the door, which, fortunately, was not locked. She hurried to her father's room. Some one lay before the door.
He generally amused the spectators in a comical way, and always made them laugh; even now, when he had finished his work, he mingled with the peasants and delighted them with his jokes. Fanfaro and Caillette were still engaged constructing the booth.
Fanfar's sudden appearance had carried her memory back to the last interview she had with Simon, when, our readers will remember, he had given his wife the papers that proved his birth and that of Jacques. And now Françoise had but one idea, to return to Leigoutte. In vain did Caillette urge her to return to Paris, and the girl had promised Fanfar not to leave his mother.
Suddenly, she stopped and looked up at Fanfar, who was swinging from a wooden bar. An artist would have been struck with the beauty of his figure. Caillette watched him breathlessly as he went through his exercises, and as he dropped at last on the floor, so lightly that his feet scarcely left their imprint, she threw both arms around his neck.
Caillette took up her needle, as the door opened to admit Gudel. He was not alone, two ladies of aristocratic bearing were with him. "But, my dear Irène, this is a strange caprice," said the elder of the two. "What will the Countess say?" "My dear Madame Ursula, it would oblige me if you would cease your moans, that is, unless you should prefer to return to the château alone!"
She therefore went on toward Germany with her. Fortunately, a wagoner took pity on these two women, and took them up. In this way they reached Leigoutte. Françoise was silent, except a few low words that she muttered under her breath at long intervals. Caillette thought with despair of Fanfar, and his agony at his mother's disappearance.
Where is it that I have just seen them? Oh! yes I remember. I was all alone. Cinette's little bed was empty, and then the door opened and Jacques came!" "Is he alive?" cried Labarre. "Yes," answered Caillette. "They knew each other at once." "But where is Francine?" "She has been abducted by the Vicomte de Talizac." "Talizac!" Labarre caught at a chair for support. Françoise heard these words.
Gudel looked utterly aghast. Before he could speak, Bobichel appeared. "I beg your pardon, sir," he said to Fanfar, "but knowing that the sick lady was alone, I went for some one." Caillette stepped forward. The girl said in a low voice to Fanfar: "Will you allow me to take care of your mother?" She then turned to Françoise, and kissed her as Cinette would have done.
See that you take a little walk afterward on the country road. I will meet you there and tell you my plan." "Do so. Let us go to dinner now, I am hungry." When Rolla and Robeckal entered the dining-room, Girdel, Caillette, Bobichel, and Fanfaro were already sitting at table, and Schwan was just bringing in a hot, steaming dish.
The horrible woman greeted the young girl with a coarse laugh, and as Caillette paid no attention to her, Rolla placed her arms upon the table, and threateningly exclaimed: "Don't put on such airs, you tight-rope princess; what will you do when they take your Fanfaro away?" "Take Fanfaro away? What do you mean?" asked Caillette, frightened, overcoming her repulsion, and looking at Rolla.
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