"Well?" exclaimed André.
"Oh," returned his father, "who would have foretold this eight years ago? Have they become poor, then, in Paris?" He fell into silence, not willing to judge his master too hardly.
"It is ruin," said André. "After the furniture, they will be for selling the land, and us with it!"
The head of La Fromentière, the successor of so many farmers under the same masters, was standing in the middle of the room; he raised his weary eyes until they rested upon the little copper crucifix hanging at the head of his bed, then let them fall again in sign of acceptance.
"It will be a great misfortune," he said, "but it will not hinder our working!"
And he went out, perhaps to shed tears.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE AUCTION.
In the ensuing week the coming sale at the Château was the frequent subject of discussion among the men of La Fromentière. André openly attacked the masters.