"Oh my darling--my darling!" seizing the curly, silky little head which reminded her of another, and kissing it frantically. Then the child released himself and ran away without a word, his hair wet with hot tears. Left alone with Cabassu, the mother, whom that kiss had consoled, asked for an explanation of the priest's words.--Had her son many enemies, pray? "Oh!" said Cabassu, "it is not at all surprising in his position." "But what's all this about this being a great day, and this 'sitting' you all talk about?" "Why, yes! This is the day when we're to know whether Bernard is to be a deputy or not." "What? Isn't he one yet? Why, I have told it everywhere in the neighborhood, and I illuminated Saint-Romans a month ago. So I was made to tell a lie!" The _masseur_ had much difficulty in explaining to her the parliamentary formality of testing the validity of elections. She listened with only one ear, feverishly pulling over the linen. "And that's where my Bernard is at this moment?" "Yes, Madame." "Are women allowed to go into this Chamber?--Then why isn't his wife there? For I can understand that it's a great affair for him. On such a day as to-day he will need to feel that all those he loves are beside him. Look you, my boy, you must take me to this sitting. Is it very far?" "No, very near. Only it must have begun before this. And then," added the Giaour, a little embarrassed, "this is the hour when Madame needs me." "Ah! Do you teach her this thing that you're professor of? What do you call it?" "Massage. It comes down to us from the ancients. There, she's ringing her bell now. Some one will come to call me. Do you want me to tell her that you are here?" "No, no, I prefer to go to the Chamber at once." "But you have no card of admission, have you?" "Bah! I'll say that I am Jansoulet's mother and that I have come to hear my son tried." Poor mother! she did not know how truly she described his position. "Wait a moment, Madame Francoise. Let me, at least, send some one to show you the way." "Oh! do you know, I've never been able to get used to these servant people. I've a tongue in my head. There are people in the streets; I shall find my way well enough." He made one last attempt, without disclosing the whole of his thought: "Be careful. His enemies will speak against him in the Chamber. You will hear things that will hurt you." Oh! the lovely smile of maternal faith and pride with which she answered: "Don't I know better than all those people what my son is worth? Is there anything that could make me unjust to him? If so, I must be a mighty ungrateful woman. Nonsense!" And, with a threatening shake of her cap, she departed.