She burst into sobs as she bent over her child.
M. Vulfran hesitated for a moment; then he turned to Fabry and said:
"You are right; let us go."
They returned to the offices. After a time Talouel came to tell his employer that out of the six children that they had thought were dead, three had been found in the homes of neighbors, where they had been carried when the fire first broke out. The burial for the other three tiny victims was to take place the next day.
When Talouel had gone, Perrine, who had been very thoughtful, decided to speak to M. Vulfran.
"Are you not going to the burial service of these little babies?" she asked. Her trembling voice betrayed her emotion.
"Why should I go?" asked M. Vulfran.
"Because that would be the most dignified answer you could give to what that poor woman said."
"Did my work people come to the burial service of my son?" asked M. Vulfran, coldly.
"They did not share your sorrow," said Perrine gravely, "but if you share theirs now they will be touched."