At the last stroke of midnight the priest, good Father Blandinière, took his place before the altar, and the solemn service began.
It must be admitted that at Mamezan they were not very exacting in regard to the singing of the chants. There was only the sacristan, who in a hard, rough voice led a handful of boys, who had very little notion either of time or tune. Indeed, it was quite a grief to the venerable priest that he could not have better music at his church. But the people were too poor to pay for an organ and an organist, and so they had to be content with the well-meaning but far from harmonious sacristan.
The choir, if it may be so called, was placed in a little gallery over the main entrance, and into this gallery Cæsar followed the sacristan.
Nadine had wondered why he did not go with them to the church, and had been looking for him all over the building. At last she caught sight of him in the gallery, and gave a start of surprise.
"Why, what can Cæsar be doing there?" she said to herself. Just then the sacristan made a sign to him, and he advanced to the front of the gallery with his mandolin in hand.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE RETURN TO MORAINVILLE.
As the first sweet notes fell from Cæsar's fingers, the congregation turned their heads to see what this novel music meant, and Nadine, catching Abel's arm, whispered:
"Now I know the secret. Cæsar is going to sing 'Minuit Chrétien,' he knows it perfectly."