Jean-Christophe flung his arms round his neck and sobbed:
"No, father—dear father! I do not despise you! I am so unhappy!"
They wept loudly. Melchior lamented:
"It is not my fault. I am not bad. That's true, Jean-Christophe? I am not bad?"
He promised that he would drink no more. Jean-Christophe wagged his head doubtfully, and Melchior admitted that he could not resist it when he had money in his hands. Jean-Christophe thought for a moment and said:
"You see, father, we must…"
He stopped.
"What then?"
"I am ashamed…"
"Of whom?" asked Melchior naïvely.