Monsieur Bergeret turned to Pauline.
“Come, let me have a look at you. I can hardly recognize you.”
A bright idea struck Riquet. He made up his mind to go to the kitchen, to the kindly Angélique, and to warn her, if possible, of the disturbance taking place in the dining-room. She was his last hope for the restoration of order and the expulsion of the intruders.
“What have you done with Father’s portrait?” inquired Mademoiselle Zoe.
“Sit down and have something to eat,” said Monsieur Bergeret. “There is some chicken and various other things.”
“Papa, is it really true that we are going to live in Paris?”
“Next month, my child. Are you glad?”
“Yes, but I should be just as happy in the country if I could have a garden.”
She stopped eating her chicken and said:
“I do admire you, papa. I’m proud of you. You are a great man.”