The evening of his father's funeral the Abbe Constantin took him home to the vicarage.

The day had been rainy and cold.

Jean was sitting by the fireside; the priest was reading his breviary opposite him.

Old Pauline came and went, arranging her affairs.
An hour passed without a word, when Jean, raising his head, said: "Godfather, did my father leave me any money ?" This question was so extraordinary that the old priest, stupefied, could scarcely believe that he heard aright.
"You ask if your father--" "I asked if my father left me some money ?" "Yes; he must have left you some." "A good deal, don't you think?
I have often heard people say that my father was rich.

Tell me about how much he has left me!" "But I don't know.