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Francine took her brother's letter and read it slowly, but when she came to the words "little Jacques" and "Cinette," her eyes closed, and she would have fallen had not Bobichel caught her. "You must not cry like that!" he said. "You must not weep. We will save Fanfar! Please, Mademoiselle Irène, read the letter Iron Jaws sends you. He has an idea, and he knows what he is about.
"How strange!" said the girl, "when I hear her speak that name, it seems to me the voice is familiar." "Come, Cinette!" This time the girl entered the room. She beheld a woman vainly seeking to raise herself in her bed. Her face was hideously scarred and seared, while the bloodshot eyes could not endure the light. It was clear that the poor creature had been the victim of a horrible accident.
He took it into his head to start a musical school; he had three pupils, only two of which paid a sou; on the third, Cinette, he built many projects. He was making arrangements to transport his pupil to a wider stage, when an epidemic broke out in the village, and the girl was left alone in the world.
But to return to our tale. "I am going out, mamma," said Francine, "and you will be very good while I am away, will you not?" "Yes, Cinette yes." "You will not try to get up?" "No, Cinette." "And to-morrow you shall have a pretty new cap " "With ribbons?" "Yes, with ribbons." The woman laughed with delight, but presently she uttered a cry of distress. "The box! the box! where is the box?"
"Ah! dear mother," he said, "you braved death for the sake of your children. How did you escape?" But the momentary glimmer of reason had in a measure vanished, and when he spoke of Cinette she did not seem to be aware of who the girl was. "You must listen to me, mother," said Fanfar, rapidly. "Jacques was not alone in that inn. There was another child; she was small, she had light curls."
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.
Suddenly the woman seated in the chair looked up. "Excuse the simplicity of the arrangements the inn does as well as possible." "Françoise Fougère!" he cried. Françoise started up, as if sustained by supernatural strength. "Who calls me?" she cried. "Who is it that speaks my name?" "Françoise, do you remember Simon, Jacques, Cinette?" "My children? Yes, yes I remember them.
My sister's name was Francine, but we called her Cinette, and this evening a girl was carried away by violence from the Veau Sauté." "And that Aubé has such a good face!" "Oh! he was not concerned in this villainy. The crime was committed by a man who has more than once crossed our path the Vicomte de Talizac!" "Oh! what a family that is!" cried Gudel.
"I am thirsty," she faintly articulated. "Yes, mamma," answered the girl who was called Cinette. And the woman smiled. She was mad in addition to her helplessness. No one knew who she was, nor whence she came. The reader has recognized in the girl who ministered to her needs, little Cinette, the child of Simon Fougère and Françoise.
"Fanfar," he said, "were I to die of shame and grief, I will obey you, for I should be doing a good act." "This girl must be saved! I dare not indulge in the hope that she is Cinette, and, moreover, I need all my courage. Gudel, your hand. Bobichel, I rely on you!" These friends in a cordial grasp of their hands, exchanged a solemn oath which bound them to the sacred cause of justice.
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