'Ah, Monsieur . . .' they began simultaneously.
Then Marie said: "This is a miracle. This is surely
the work of his dear patron saint/
But le tout petit Loup said nothing at all, main-
taining a rather ominous silence.
When Monsieur Roland had taken his leave, Marie
hurried away to inform her husband that le tout petit
Loup was already made: 'Did I not say that Jan
might be clever but that all the same our tout petit
Loup was as wise as an owl and as sharp as a needle?9
Jouse nodded: 'And the Sorbonne is quite as fine
as the Grand Seminaire, I believe/ he informed her;
'nor do I doubt that the good Roland's friends are
quite as fine as Madame de Berac! When next
Germaine comes you can tell her this news; but first
bring her up here — I would see her face. Boudieu,
I would not miss Germaine's face when you tell her
this news for a thousand francs!5 And since Jouse
was still only human, he chuckled.
Then into the room marched le tout petit Loup,
his cheeks flushed, his monkeyish eyes bright with
temper. At his heels followed Christophe looking
perturbed:
'Loup is greatly upset/ he whispered to Marie.
And undoubtedly Loup was greatly upset. Spinning
round he stamped his foot at his brother: 'Stop
whispering, will you? It gets on the nerves. I cannot
support your eternal whispering. If you want to say
something then say it out loud. You will drive me
mad, hissing there like a snake! And in any case, why
are you interfering?'
'Santo Ano d'At!3 his mother exclaimed; 'Santo Ano
d'At! Now, what is the matter? Here is heaven
showering blessings into your lap and you take this
occasion, it seems, to be rude. You ought to thank
God for all He has done. Why, you Sid not even
trouble to thank your master.5
36?