"It seems to be my rôle in life to unmask villains," said Guy with a dry smile. "I don't like the job, but I mean to do this thoroughly." "I hope he won't be revengeful before he goes. He might kidnap Alain. Every child to them is a future asset for their achievement, I know." "Keep him with you as much as possible, but Dragominsk is out for more than Alain." "And it is he who has been stirring up the peasants. I think we ought to have discovered him before; but when I talked to him, he pretended to be entirely against the Soviet. What a traitor he is! Is he sleeping at the Gaugy's to-night?" "I can't tell you. I only know that I shall have the police out from Orleans to-morrow if he doesn't go. I think he'll clear out." Adrienne was uneasy all the next day. She learnt that Dragominsk had gone back to Orleans; but as she walked through the village there were sullen averted faces, and she was glad to get back to the Château. Guy took the bull by the horns, and in the parlour of the inn held forth to about seven or eight men on the subject of property and ownership. Alain was very puzzled at his tutors' sudden disappearance. His father spoke frankly to him about it. "I have sent him away, my boy, because he was not a good man, and as I want you to grow up a Christian gentleman, I want your tutor to set you a good example. You must try to forget a lot of what he taught you. And remember, we are all put into this world to serve and please God, and keep His commandments." Alain was silent. When he was saying his prayers that evening, he looked up into Adrienne's face earnestly: "Is God a real person, Mother? Does He really see me and want me to love Him?" "Yes, Alain, He loves you. He sent you into the world, and He will take you out of it. There are a lot of people who won't serve God or love Him, and they pretend to themselves that there is no God. The Bible calls those people fools, and they are." Alain seemed impressed. When she had said good night to him, Adrienne came down into the hall where her husband was seated reading. She went over to him, and, sitting on a low stool, rested her head against his knee. "Do you think God will forgive and overrule our mistake?" she asked. "Why, of course! It would be a bad look-out for us if He did not. Don't worry over Alain. He is small and impressionable, and I'm sure your teaching and training will soon remove the nonsense which Dragominsk has been filling his head with." Then he stooped and kissed the little curls against her forehead. He was very undemonstrative as a rule, but he had his moments of emotion. "My little wife," he murmured, "what should I do without you? We'll weather through this. Our peasants are like a flock of sheep. When the Curé comes back, he'll bring them to their senses. Don't go into the village for the next few days. Let them quiet down." Then he added with his whimsical smile: