The thing parted its lips: Excuse us,
Sir.
VIIThey made their way to the office, and Joseph
lighted the lamp. The table and the room itself were too small.
Finally, it is broken by Joseph:Has any of them got
one?
As soon as he had regained his freedom, M. It was
bought when we moved in, from Huillery. While Joseph is on his way back to him, he
is drawing up the budget oftheir life. Ibelieve that this is really at the root of
all the trouble.
These fourteen months havedefinitely fixed his
character.
I suppose Cousin Mina has been raising hell over
Benjamins going. He was clever enough,but his cleverness was of no use whatsoever in
domestic transactions.
That some of them may be repulsive, and others
extremely appetising,there is no use in denying.
But if everyone else feels as I do, she runs a
great risk of dying anold maid.
The familiar escort of place and buildings gave M.
The table and the room itself were too small. Their businessblood is hammering
against their temples.
But really theirinsignificance made them resemble
those vices for which there is noexcuse.
VIIThey made their way to the office, and Joseph
lighted the lamp. The full moon illuminates before thebrothers the architecture of
their factory. The shutters of the dwelling-house were closed. The clatter of the
hundred thousand spindles of Vendeuvre seemedto have considerably
decreased.
A long time passed without anything
happening.
The mail had been waiting for twenty-four hours.