"There's to be a
grand review in the village this afternoon. There's breakfast for you,
my dears!"
Their exclamations were interrupted by Lajeunesse, who added: "And so my
Madelinette is to go to Paris, after all, and Monsieur Parpon is to see
that she starts right."
"Monsieur" Parpon was a new title for the dwarf. But the great comedy,
so well played, had justified it. "Oh, His Excellency 'll keep his
oath," said the mealman. "I'd take Elise Malboir's word about a man for
a million francs, was he prince or ditcher; and she says he's the
greatest man in the world. She knows."
"That reminds me," said Lajeunesse gloomily, "Elise has the black fever."
The mealman's face seemed to petrify, his eyes stood out, the bread he
had in his teeth dropped, and he stared wildly at Lajeunesse. All were
occupied in watching the mealman, and they did not see the figure of a
girl approaching.
Muroc, dumfounded, spoke first. "Elise--the black fever!" he gasped,
thoroughly awed.
"She is better, she will live," said a voice behind Lajeunesse.
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