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Updated: June 21, 2025
While they were talking about it, M. Vulfran came into the room. "Mademoiselle," he said, "I have come to ask a favor of you in the name of all the village. It is a big favor. It may mean a great sacrifice on your part. This is it." In a few words he outlined the request he had to make.
That was the question that Perrine anxiously asked herself, for on that day her role of interpreter to the English machinists would terminate. That of translator of newspaper articles to M. Vulfran, would that continue until M. Bendit had recovered from his illness? Here was another question that made her even still more anxious.
Although the speech was very incoherent, nevertheless it touched M. Vulfran deeply. With his hand on Perrine's shoulder, he moved forward to the balustrade. There all could see him from below.
"Yes, sir ... nothing can be hidden from you. He is drunk...." William began to apologize. "I've just come from...." he began, but his employer cut him short. "That is enough," said M. Vulfran, sternly. "I can tell by your breath and the way you walk that you are drunk."
Monsieur Vulfran had thought it better to have one place of reunion and recreation. If his people all met together to enjoy their leisure hours, it would establish good relations and a bond of friendship between them. At the end of the grounds there was a fine library with a reading and writing room. M. Vulfran's relations thought that he had gone mad. Did he intend to ruin himself?
But there were some faces that were not exactly radiant. The two nephews certainly looked very glum when, after the ceremony, they came up to their cousin to offer their congratulations. "As for me," said Talouel, who did not mean to lose any time in paying court to the young heiress, "I had always supposed...." The excitement of the day proved too much for M. Vulfran. The doctor was called in.
"It is an English letter, dated May 29, from Dacca," she replied. "From whom?" "From Father Fields." "What does it say?" "May I read a few lines first, please ... before I tell you?" "Yes, but do it quickly." She tried to do as she was told, but her emotion increased as she read ... the words dancing before her eyes. "Well?" demanded M. Vulfran, impatiently.
The dinner was very simple soup, roast lamb, green peas and salad but there was abundance of dessert ... two or three raised stands of delicious fruit and cakes. "Tomorrow, if you like, you may go and see the hot houses where these fruits are grown," said M. Vulfran. Perrine thanked him and said she would like to. She had commenced by helping herself discreetly to some cherries.
As she still held out the envelope the mistress of the store caught sight of the words Maraucourt Factories, Vulfran Paindavoine in one of the corners. The expression of her face changed at once, her smile was very pleasant now. "What do you wish, Mademoiselle?" she asked, leaving her desk and drawing forward a chair for Perrine.
For a moment she stood behind her chair, not knowing what to do. M. Vulfran seemed to sense her attitude. "Sit down," he said. The dinner was served at once. The servant who had shown her the way to the dining room put a plate of soup before her, while Bastien brought another to his master which was full to the brim.
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