big heart was capable.

"This is a great thing you are doing, Monsieur Vulfran," she said, with
tears in her eyes, "and I will do all I can to make this work a
success."

"It is your pupil one must thank for it," said the blind man, "not I.
Her words and suggestions have awakened something in my heart. I have
stepped out on a new road. I am only at the first steps. It is nothing
compared with what I intend to do."

"Oh, please," said Perrine, her eyes bright with delight and pride, "if
you still want to do something...."

"What is it?" he asked with a smile.

"I want to take you somewhere ... tonight."

"What do you mean? Where do you want to take me?" asked the blind man,
mystified.

"To a place where your presence only for a few moments will bring about
extraordinary results," said Perrine.

"Well, can't you tell me where this mysterious place is?" asked M.
Vulfran.

"But if I tell you, your visit will not have the same effect. It will be
a failure. It will be a fine evening and warm, and I am sure that you
will not take cold. Please say you will go!"

"I think one could have confidence in her," said Mademoiselle Belhomme,
"although her request seems a little strange and childish."

"Well," said M. Vulfran, indulgently, "I'll do as you wish, Aurelie. Now
at what hour are we to start on this adventure?"

"The later it is the better it will be," said Perrine.

During the evening he spoke several times of the outing they were to
have, but Perrine would not explain.

"Do you know, little girl, you have aroused my curiosity?" he said at
last.

"I am glad you are interested," she said gravely. "There is so much that
can be done in the future. Do not look back to the past any more."

"The future is empty for me," said the blind man bitterly.

"Oh, no; it is not," said Perrine, lifting her lovely face to his. Her
eyes were shining with a beautiful light. "It will not be empty if you
think of others. When one is a child, and not very happy, one often
thinks that if a wonderful fairy came to them, of what beautiful things
they would ask. But if one is the fairy, or rather the magician oneself,
and can do all the wonderful things alone, wouldn't it be splendid to
use one's power?..."

The evening passed. Several times the blind man asked if it were not
time to start, but Perrine delayed as long as possible.

At last she said that she thought they could start. The night was warm,
no breeze, no mists. The