what did they do with it in Paris?
I am quite sure that no charitable person wanted it."

"I do not know," replied the Remoise, "'twas just at that time that my
husband bought the office of notary, at Bern, two leagues from the town,
and we were no longer occupied with that story; besides, in front
of Bern, stand the two hills of Cernay, which hide the towers of the
cathedral in Reims from view."

While chatting thus, the three worthy _bourgeoises_ had arrived at the
Place de Greve. In their absorption, they had passed the public breviary
of the Tour-Roland without stopping, and took their way mechanically
towards the pillory around which the throng was growing more dense with
every moment. It is probable that the spectacle which at that moment
attracted all looks in that direction, would have made them forget
completely the Rat-Hole, and the halt which they intended to make there,
if big Eustache, six years of age, whom Mahiette was dragging along by
the hand, had not abruptly recalled the object to them: "Mother," said
he, as though some instinct warned him that the Rat-Hole was behind him,
"can I eat the cake now?"

If Eustache had been more adroit, that is to say, less greedy, he
would have continued to wait, and would only have hazarded that simple
question, "Mother, can I eat the cake, now?" on their return to the
University, to Master Andry Musnier's, Rue Madame la Valence, when he
had the two arms of the Seine and the five bridges of the city between
the Rat-Hole and the cake.

This question, highly imprudent at the moment when Eustache put it,
aroused Mahiette's attention.

"By the way," she exclaimed, "we are forgetting the recluse! Show me the
Rat-Hole, that I may carry her her cake."

"Immediately," said Oudarde, "'tis a charity."

But this did not suit Eustache.

"Stop! my cake!" said he, rubbing both ears alternatively with his
shoulders, which, in such cases, is the supreme sign of discontent.

The three women retraced their steps, and, on arriving in the vicinity
of the Tour-Roland, Oudarde said to the other two,--

"We must not all three gaze into the hole at once, for fear of alarming
the recluse. Do you two pretend to read the _Dominus_ in the breviary,
while I thrust my nose into the aperture; the recluse knows me a little.
I will give you warning when you can approach."

She proceeded alone to the window. At the moment when she looked in,
a profound pity was depicted on all her feature