“What, Gerande?”
“The presence of that man, who always follows us,” she replied in a low tone.
Master Zacharius turned towards the little old man.
“Faith, he goes well,” said he, with a satisfied air, “for it is just four o’clock. Fear nothing, my child; it is not a man, it is a clock!”
Gerande looked at her father in terror. How could Master Zacharius read the hour on this strange creature’s visage?
“By-the-bye,” continued the old watchmaker, paying no further attention to the matter, “I have not seen Aubert for several days.”
“He has not left us, however, father,” said Gerande, whose thoughts turned into a gentler channel.
“What is he doing then?”
“He is working.”
“Ah!” cried the old man. “He is at work repairing my watches, is he not? But he will never succeed; for it is not repair they need, but a resurrection!”