“But you realize, Paulette, that those two baskets were exactly alike.”
“That matters nothing, for the fact remains that you were without food. Monsieur, Madame, she starves, this child. She has eaten nothing since noon yesterday.”
“Oh yes, but I have,” Lucie hastened to assure her. “You will scarce believe what I have to tell you, and will say it is nothing short of a miracle indeed.” And she proceeded to tell of Pom Pom’s achievement to a still more interested audience.
“This dog, this very clever creature, where is he?” asked the doctor when she had ended her recital.
“He is here,” Lucie told him waving her hand to where, on outside, Pom Pom was quite content to wait with Victor.
“We must see this so clever animal,” declared the doctor, going to the foot of the steps where Victor was sitting.
“And my grandfather?” said Lucie turning again to Paulette. “He is safe? He is here?”
“He is safe, let us hope. None were allowed to remain when the authorities evacuated the town. All were forced to leave. To be sure, I hear there were some who hid themselves and would not go. This Paulette, that you see, she stayed because perforce she must. It is perhaps a Providence which sent that blow upon the head or out I must have gone whether I would or not, and then what would have become of you?”
“There was Victor,” said Lucie thoughtfully.
“Oh, yes, Victor. La la, there was Victor,” exclaimed Paulette marching off. Lucie could not tell whether offended or not.