"Everyone knows very well how you live, Jean," said Monsieur Cardonnet. "You wander about night and day, poaching everywhere and at all seasons, never sleeping two nights in succession in the same place, but generally in the open air; sometimes accepting hospitality at Châteaubrun, whose châtelain was nursed by your mother. I do not blame him for assisting you, but he would act more wisely, from the point of view of your own interests, to preach work and a regular life to you. But come, we have had enough of these useless words, and now you must listen to me. I am sorry for your lot, and I am going to restore your liberty by becoming surety for you. You will get off with a few days' imprisonment, just for form's sake. I will pay all your fines, and then you can hold up your head once more. Isn't that clear?" "Oh! you are right, father," cried Emile; "you are kind and just. Well, Jean, did I deceive you?" "It seems that you have met before," said Monsieur Cardonnet. "Yes, father," replied Emile warmly. "Jean rendered me a great service last night; and what draws me to him even more strongly is that I saw him this morning risk his life seriously to pull a child out of the water, and he saved him. Jean, accept my father's offer and let his generosity triumph over misplaced pride." "That is very well, Monsieur Emile," replied the carpenter. "You love your father; that is as it should be. I respected mine. But let us see, Monsieur Cardonnet, on what conditions will you do all this for me?" "That you work on my buildings," replied the manufacturer. "You shall have the superintendence of the carpentering." "Work on your factory, which will be the ruin of so many people!" "No, but which will make the fortune of all my workmen, and yours, too." "Well," said Jean, somewhat shaken, "if I don't do your work others will and I shan't be able to prevent them. I will work for you then, until I have earned a thousand francs. But who will keep me while I am paying my debt to you day by day?" "I will, for I will add a third to your day's wages." "A third is very little, for I must dress myself. I am stripped bare." "Well! I will double it. Your day's wages would be thirty sous at the current rate hereabout; I will pay you three francs and you shall receive half of it every day, the other half going toward your indebtedness to me." "Very well; it will take a long while--at least four years." "You are wrong; it will be just two years. I think that two years hence I shall have nothing more to build." "What, monsieur, I am to work for you every day--every day in the year without a break?" "Except Sunday." "Oh! Sunday--I should think so! But shan't I have one or two days a week to pass as I choose?" "Jean, you are growing lazy, I see. There's one result of a vagabond life already."