"I can't tell you, Auntie. It's not my secret, you see: it's his."
"Is it a secret?"
"Yes, it's a secret."
"Then I won't ask."
"It's a secret ... to the others. Perhaps not ... to you."
She was burning to let it out.
"I don't ask you to tell me, Emilie."
"I'll tell you ... if you promise me not to tell anybody else ... not a soul! Henri is ... a clown!"
"Emilie! No!"
"Yes, he's a clown."