"
"Yes, Grandmother."
Then the lad kissed her on the forehead and, shivering with fear, went
to bed in his big room, where the faintest creak of the paneling threw
him into a cold sweat.
The major had listened with a grave face. Yes, by heavens! Honor was
honor, and he would never permit that wretched Burle to disgrace the old
woman and the boy! As the lad was so devoted to the military profession,
it was necessary that he should be able to enter Saint-Cyr with his head
erect.
When Mme Burle took up the lamp to show the major out, she passed the
door of the captain's room, and stopped short, surprised to see the key
outside, which was a most unusual occurrence.
"Do go in," she said to Laguitte; "it is bad for him to sleep so much."
And before he could interpose she had opened the door and stood
transfixed on finding the room empty. Laguitte turned crimson and looked
so foolish that she suddenly understood everything, enlightened by
the sudden recollection of several little incidents to which she had
previously attached no importance.
"You knew it--you knew it!" she stammered. "Why was I not told? Oh, my
God, to think of it! Ah, he has been stealing again--I feel it!"
She remained erect, white and rigid.
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