message and for the return answer.

"Now," he said to Perrine, giving her the money, "take it yourself to
the telegraph office, hand it in and see that no mistakes are made by
the receiver."

As she crossed the veranda she saw Talouel, who, with his hands thrust
in his pockets, was strolling about as though on the lookout for all
that passed in the yards as well as in the offices.

"Where are you going?" he demanded.

"To the cable office with a message," replied Perrine. She held the
paper in one hand and the money in the other. He took the paper from
her, snatching it so roughly that if she had not let it go he would have
torn it. He hastily opened it. His face flushed with anger when he saw
that the message was written in English.

"You know that you've got to talk with me later on, eh?" he said.

"Yes, sir."

She did not see M. Vulfran again before three o'clock, when he rang for
her to go out. She had wondered who would replace William, and she was
very surprised when M. Vulfran told her to take her seat beside him,
after having sent away the coachman who had brought old Coco around.

"As you drove him so well yesterday, there is no reason why you should
not drive him well today," said M. Vulfran. "Besides, I want to talk to
you, and it is better for us to be alone like this."

It was not until they had left behind the village, where their
appearance excited the same curiosity as the evening before, and were
going at a gentle trot along the lanes, that M. Vulfran began to talk.
Perrine would like to have put off this moment; she was very nervous.

"You told me that M. Theodore and Talouel came into your office?" said
the blind man.

"Yes, sir."

"What did they want?"

She hesitated. Her little face wore a very worried look.

"Why do you hesitate?" asked the blind man. "Don't you think that you
ought to tell me everything?"

"Yes, indeed," said Perrine, fervently. Was this not the best way to
solve her difficulties? She told what had happened when Theodore had
come into the office.

"Was that all?" asked M. Vulfran, when she stopped.

"Yes, sir; that was all."

"And Talouel?"

Again she told exactly what had occurred, only omitting to tell him that
Talouel had said that a sudden announcement of news, good or bad, might
prove fatal to him. She then told him what had passed regarding the
cable; and also that Talouel said he was going to talk with her after
work that same day.

As she talked