gone. They learn mischief there in plenty, but no good that I can
see. They know much about geography, and the stars, and anatomy, and
what they call physical sciences;--but whether they have got it into
their heads that the good God wants them to live straight, clean,
honest, wholesome lives, is more than I am certain of. However, I
trust Pere Laurent will do what he can."

"Pere Laurent?" echoed Cazeau, with a wide smile--"You have a high
opinion of Pere Laurent? Ah, yes, a good man!--but ignorant--alas!
very ignorant!"

Papa Patoux brought his eyes down from the ceiling and fixed them
enquiringly on Cazeau.

"Ignorant?" he began, when at this juncture Madame Patoux entered,
and taking possession of Henri and Babette, informed Monsieur Cazeau
that the Archbishop would be for some time engaged in conversation
with Cardinal Bonpre, and that therefore he, Monsieur Cazeau, need
not wait,--Monseigneur would return to his house alone. Whereupon
the secretary rose, evidently glad to be set at liberty, and took
his leave of the Patoux family. On the threshold, however, he
paused, looking back somewhat frowningly at Jean Patoux himself.

"I should not, if I were you, trouble Monseigneur concerning the
case you told me of--that of--of Marguerite Valmond,"--he observed--
"He has a horror of evil women."

With that he departed, walking across the Square towards the
Archbishop's house in a stealthy sort of fashion, as though he were
a burglar meditating some particularly daring robbery.