And then he would laugh his thick, difficult laugh, for
his sister could no longer arouse his ire, he had grown
to think her too trivial a person.
But one evening there arrived at the Benedit's
house a person who was far from being trivial.
Monsieur Roland arrived, no one less, if you please.
And why? To discuss le tout petit Loup, his abilities,
and his possible future. Loup had now left school and
was working long hours at the Bazaar Bled as general
factotum, and this Monsieur Roland appeared to
deplore while admitting that it must go on for the
present.
Said he: 'Loup was always an excellent pupil and
I cannot but think he is being wasted; however,
Madame, I quite realize that money is none too easy
to come by. But after the war I think Loup should go
in for the higher examinations, and then I would like
to see him train as a teacher. Once the war is over
I can do several things: I have one or two friends who
are influential and I mean to interest them in our
Loup so that he may continue his education. A little
assistance, n'est-ce-pas, chere Madame? Enough to
replace his earnings perhaps, so that he can be free
to go to the Sorbonne. No, no, do not thank me, I do
this for myself quite as much as for him; it is good for
my prestige, it is also good for the prestige of the school.
A really promising pupil is rare, and when one is
discovered there are those who will help him. Of
course there arises the question of health — Loup is
not over-strong and that is a drawback; still I think
that we ought to take the risk. ... In any case I am
willing to take it.5
Christophe and Marie stared in amazement; they
could scarcely believe their ears; were they dreaming?
Imagine such a thing, le tout petit Loup so clever that
he would become a teacher! Imagine such a thing
. . . le tout petit Loup!
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