"I, suffering?" asked Paul. Then he sought to remember, and, all of a sudden, he cried, "The fire over there at the farm!"
Although his memory had not entirely returned, he recollected something. He hesitated to speak. Then, with an anxious voice, he asked,—
"And Albert?"
"Albert," answered Monsieur Roger, "he is below; and everybody is waiting until you come down to breakfast."
"Then there were no accidents?"
"No."
"How fortunate! I will dress myself and be down in a minute."
And, in fact, in a few minutes Paul was ready, and descended leaning on Monsieur Roger's arm.
The latter, as they entered the dining-room, made a sign to them that they should all keep silence: he did not wish that they should fatigue the tired mind of the child with premature questions; but when they were sitting at the table, Paul, addressing Albert, said,—
"Tell me what passed last night. It is strange I scarcely remember."