The banker knocked on the door indicated.
"Come in," called out M. Vulfran, in answer to his knock.
"What, you ... you at Maraucourt!" he exclaimed when he saw his visitor.
"Yes, I had some business to attend to at Picquigny, and I came on here to bring you some news received from Bosnia."
Perrine sat at her little table. She had gone very white; she seemed like one struck dumb.
"It is not what you hoped, what we all hoped," said the banker quietly.
"You mean that that fellow who wrote just wanted to get hold of the forty pounds."
"Oh, no; he seems an honest man...."
"Then he knows nothing?"