"Once you have passed through the Gates, you turn straight to the right," he explained, "and you follow the road all along the fortifications for half an hour, then go down a wide avenue, then turn to your left, and then ask where the Guillot Field is. Everybody knows it."
"Thank you. I'll go and tell mama. If you'll stand beside Palikare for a minute, I'll go and tell her at once."
"Sure, I'll mind him for yer. I'll ask him to teach me Greek."
"And please don't let him eat that straw."
Perrine went inside the caravan and told her mother what the little clown had said.
"If that is so," said the sick woman, "we must not hesitate; we must go to Charonne. But can you find the way?"
"Yes, it's easy enough. Oh, mother," she added, as she was going out, "there are such a lot of wagons outside; they have printed on them 'Maraucourt Factories,' and beneath that the name, 'Vulfran Paindavoine.' There are all kinds of barrels and things in the carts. Such a number!"
"There is nothing remarkable in that, my child," said the woman.
"Yes, but it's strange to see so many wagons with the same name on them," replied the girl as she left the caravan.
Perrine found the donkey with his nose buried in the straw, which he was eating calmly.