Part 21 (1/2)

Monsieur Roger started. With his trembling hands he still sustained the child; he bent over, ready to embrace him, forgetting that the child was sleeping and dreaming. Monsieur Roger was about to utter the name which choked him,--”My son.”

Then Paul Solange opened his eyes. He looked up dreamily; then he recognized the face before him, and surprise mingled with affection in his tones.

”Monsieur Roger!” he said.

He looked around him, saw that he was in his own room, and remembered nothing else. He asked,--

”Why are you here, Monsieur Roger?”

Mastering himself, Monsieur Roger answered that he had come to find out how Paul was, as he had seen him suffering the night before.

”I, suffering?” asked Paul. Then he sought to remember, and, all of a sudden, he cried, ”The fire over there at the farm!”

Although his memory had not entirely returned, he recollected something.

He hesitated to speak. Then, with an anxious voice, he asked,--

”And Albert?”

”Albert,” answered Monsieur Roger, ”he is below; and everybody is waiting until you come down to breakfast.”

”Then there were no accidents?”

”No.”

”How fortunate! I will dress myself and be down in a minute.”

And, in fact, in a few minutes Paul was ready, and descended leaning on Monsieur Roger's arm.

The latter, as they entered the dining-room, made a sign to them that they should all keep silence: he did not wish that they should fatigue the tired mind of the child with premature questions; but when they were sitting at the table, Paul, addressing Albert, said,--

”Tell me what pa.s.sed last night. It is strange I scarcely remember.”

”No,” said Madame Dalize: ”we are at table for breakfast, and we have all need for food,--you, Paul, above all. Come, now, let us eat; a little later we may talk.”

[Ill.u.s.tration]

”It is well said,” said Monsieur Dalize.

There was nothing to do but to obey. And, indeed, Paul was glad to do so, for he was very hungry. He had lost so much strength that the stomach for the moment was more interesting to him than the brain. They breakfasted, and then they went out upon the lawn before the chateau, under a large walnut-tree, which every day gave its hospitable shade to the Dalize family and their guests.

”Well, my dear Paul,” said Monsieur Dalize, ”how are you at present?”

”Very well, indeed, sir, very well,” answered Paul. ”I was a little feeble when I first awoke, but now,--now----”

He stopped speaking; he seemed lost in thought.

”What is the matter?” asked Albert.

”I am thinking of last night at the farm,--the fire.”

”Oh, that was nothing,” said Albert.