"By a little tact I obtained the Greloux's address from Madame
Vantrasson," resumed his mother. "Then I sent for a cab and drove
there at once."
"And you saw them?"
"Yes; thanks to a falsehood which doesn't trouble my conscience
much, I succeeded in effecting an entrance, and had an hour's
conversation with them." His mother's icy tones frightened Pascal.
Her slowness tortured him, and still he dared not press her. "The
Greloux family," she continued, "seem to be what are called worthy
people, that is, incapable of committing any crime that is
punishable by the code, and very proud of their income of seven
thousand francs a year. They must have been very much attached to
Mademoiselle Marguerite, for they were lavish in their
protestations of affection when I mentioned her name. The husband
in particular seemed to regard her with a feeling of something
like gratitude."
"Ah! you see, mother, you see!"
"As for the wife, it was easy to see that she had sincerely
regretted the loss of the best apprentice, the most honest
servant, and the best worker she had ever seen in her life. And
yet, from her own story, I should be willing to swear that she had
abused the poor child, and had made a slave of her." Tears
glittered in Pascal's eyes, but he breathed freely once more. "As
for Vantrasson," resumed Madame Ferailleur, "it is certain that he
took a violent fancy to his sister's apprentice.
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