write you again, and do not forget to let me know
your protege's age.
'I clasp your hand in affectionate friendship.5
The Cure went down on his threadbare knees, and
his eyes were actually full of tears as he knelt before
his new crucifix — the one of fine wood that had been
carved by Anfos. And his heart was so glad and so
thankful for Jan, that he could not find words for his
own gratitude, but must just kneel there gazing up
at the Christ, while the tears overflowed and ran
down his gaunt face, leaving little shining streaks in
its furrows.
§3
People very soon heard about Jan's good fortune,
for the Cure had reluctantly considered it his duty
to impart the tidings to Madame Roustan; and now
not a kilo of potatoes could she buy, or a bottle of
wine, or a bag of greengages, but their vendors must
hear all about her son who was under the protection
of the Comtesse de Berac.
Jouse was alternately amused and annoyed: 'It
would seem' he remarked while feeling the latter,
'that Saint Peter favours the Faubourg St. Germain.
No doubt he will ask for our family trees before he
permits us to pass into heaven! Do not be so ridicu-
lous, my sister. Is it not enough that you have a good
son who could make his way without your fine lady?
To hear you so impressed by a noble name is to know
that indeed you are humble in spirit!'
At all of which Madame Roustan could smile:
cAi! las,' she remarked to a neighbour one day, 'what
a pity it is that my brother is so jealous/
Marie was genuinely glad that her nephew should
be helped in so kindly and generous a manner; all
the same she decided that le tout petit Loup would, in
time, excel even Jan in his studies: cjan is clever,
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