A little later, stopping before the door of the office in which Perrine sat, he said in a low voice from the doorway:
"Tell me what happened with William."
Perrine thought that if she frankly replied to his question she would not be revealing any serious matter, so she related exactly what had occurred.
"Ah, good," he said, more at ease. "Now, if he should come to me and ask to be taken back I'll settle with him."
Later on Fabry and Mombleux put the same question to her, for everyone now knew that little Perrine had had to drive the chief home because his coachman had been too drunk to hold the reins.
"It's a miracle that he hasn't upset the boss a dozen times," said Fabry, "for he drives like a crazy creature when he's drunk. He should have been sent off long ago."
"Yes, and he would have been," said Mombleux, smiling, "if certain ones who wanted his help had not done all they could to keep him."
Perrine became all attention.
"They'll make a face when they see that he's gone, but I'll give William his due: he didn't know that he was spying."
They were silent while Zenobie came in to change the plates. They had not thought that the pretty little girl in the corner was listening to their conversation. After Zenobie had left the room they went on with their talk.