CHAPTER vin

IF Mathilde had expressed an unexpected desire to
know the Benedit's elder son, something happened
during the autumn which was, in a way, quite as
unexpected — Eusebe, of all people, made friendly
advances not only to Christophe but to his brother.
Hitherto, if a child had peered into his workshop,
fascinated by the large, tempting strips of leather,
Eusebe had looked up with a furious eye: 'Sarnipa-
bieune! Be off!5 he had shouted, and other very
inhospitable things; from which it had been gathered
that he did not like children.
Yet when Christophe and Loup had stood gaping
one morning, yes, and actually fingering his precious
leather, Eusebe had wagged his head at them and
grinned: 'Eh bien? Why not come right inside and
look closer?5 Nothing loth, they had taken him at his
word, and when next they had visited the shop Jan
had joined them.
Jouse thought that the welcome accorded his off-
spring was a trap very skilfully laid to catch Jan, and
this in order to anger his mother. For now more than
ever did Madame Roustan disapprove of the unre-
generate Eusebe, and now more than ever did
Eusebe despise and detest the self-righteous Madame
Roustan — indeed, he could never open his mouth in
her presence these days without trying to shock her.
Jouse confided his suspicion to his wife: *H6u, the
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