BOOK VII
THE DANGER OF OPENING A BOOK AT RANDOM
I
THE PEARL AT THE FOOT OF THE PRECIPICE
A few moments after his short colloquy with Sieur Landoys, Gilliatt was at St. Sampson.
He was troubled, even anxious. What could it be that had happened.
There was a murmur in St. Sampson like that of a startled hive. Everybody was at his door. The women were talking loud. There were people who seemed relating some occurrence and who were gesticulating. A group had gathered around them. The words could be heard, “What a misfortune!” Some faces wore a smile.
Gilliatt interrogated no one. It was not in his nature to ask questions. He was, moreover, too much moved to speak to strangers. He had no confidence in rumours. He preferred to go direct to the Bravées.
His anxiety was so great that he was not even deterred from entering the house.
The door of the great lower room opening upon the Quay, moreover, stood quite open. There was a swarm of men and women on the threshold. Everybody was going in, and Gilliatt went with the rest.