"That the masses are worth nothing?" she asked,—far from concealing that the thought disturbed her.
"What can they be worth, if a man has lived a bad life?"
"That my father did not!" she exclaimed.
"If a man is a bad man, why, then he is. He has gone where he must be judged. The Scripture says, As a tree falls, it must lie."
"My father was a good man, Victor. But he died of a sudden, and there was no time."
"No time for what, Jacqueline? No time for him to turn about, and be a bad man in the end?"
"No time for confession and absolution. He died praying God to forgive him all his sins. I heard him. I wondered, Victor, for I never thought of his committing sins. And my mother mourned for him as a good wife should not mourn for a bad husband."
"Then what is your trouble, Jacqueline?"
"Do you know why I came here to Meaux? I came to get money,—to earn it. I should be paid more money here than I got for any work at home, they said: that was the reason. When I had earned so much,—it was a large sum, but I knew I should get it, and the priest encouraged me to think I should,—he said that my heart's desire would be accomplished. And I could earn the money before winter is over, I think. But now, if"——
"Throw it into the Seine, when you get it, rather than pay it to the liar for selling your father out of a place he was never in! He is safe, believe me, if he was the good man you say. Do not disturb yourself, Jacqueline."