"Mademoiselle, has any thing been heard of M. Fabien?" "Nothing yet. But M. Deshoulieres is sure that he will soon come home." "M. Deshoulieres? Hum. Do you know what people are beginning to say?" "What?" "They say that even to be _depositaire_ to such a property is a very fine thing, and that M. Deshoulieres is perhaps in no hurry to smooth M. Saint-Martin's return." "They say that! And you can repeat it!" cried Therese flashing round upon her. "Nannon, I shall hate you if you believe what wicked people talk. Do you not know how good he is? Have you not told me yourself how much he does?" "That may be. But he is a hard man for all that," said Nannon, obstinately. "So you repeat. I do not believe it. I believe there is no man in all Charville so good, so noble, and so generous, as Monsieur Deshoulieres," cried the girl, with vehemence. "So, so! This is new doctrine. What has changed you, then, mademoiselle?" Therese was silent. In the darkness, Nannon could not see her blushes. "Perhaps, because I have only now begun to know him," she said, softly. "This is not the first time you have met," Nannon answered, with a certain dryness. "_Peste_! this wind is enough to blow one's head off one's shoulders. Well, well, old people can't take these fancies like young ones." "Yet you have told me yourself about his kindness to your neighbours." "Oh, for a doctor, yes. That is quite another affair. A doctor, you see, mademoiselle, makes it a part of his trade to be good to the sick. Otherwise, nobody would take his nasty medicines. There would be a revolution, and, who knows, we might find that we could live without doctors. M. Deshoulieres is very well when you have need of him. But I have heard it said, `Never trust a lawyer when you are in peace, a doctor when you are well.' There is another word about cures, only mademoiselle might not like to hear it. Ouf, what a tempest!" "Nannon, you are not good to-day at all." "_Pardon_, mademoiselle. It is rather that I think of Jean-Marie." "Jean-Marie is not at the farm now?" "No, no; he has tried three masters since M. Gohon. He is too good for them, little angel, that is the truth. He is not like one of those great hulking country boys who have no wits beyond their hands and feet. M. Gohon might have suited him, though." "But, Nannon, it was not because of that affair at the Halle that M. Gohon dismissed him." "That is your innocence, mademoiselle; when any one has enemies like that Madame Mathurine and M. Deshoulieres, a very little serves. No, no; M. Deshoulieres is not good to have to do with, unless one has the fever. Then, certainly--" "If ever you have the fever, and he cures you, you will not talk of him like this," Therese answered, indignantly.