She was friendly in a kind, impersonal way, much as a nurse cares for a patient, and she never relaxed a sort of old-fashioned courtesy, which might have been trying in such close quarters, were it not for the real simplicity of the life and the spirit and lightness of their race.

One night Florian--there were Florian and Octave and Felix and Isidore and Emile--the eldest, drew Medallion aside from the others, and they walked together by the river.

Florian's air suggested confidence and mystery, and soon, with a voice of hushed suggestion, he told Medallion the romance of P'tite Louison.

And each of the brothers at different times during the next fortnight did the same, differing scarcely at all in details, or choice of phrase or meaning, and not at all in general facts and essentials.

But each, as he ended, made a different exclamation.
"Voila, so sad, so wonderful! She keeps the ring--dear P'tite Louison!" said Florian, the eldest.
"Alors, she gives him a legacy in her will! Sweet P'tite Louison," said Octave.
"Mais, the governor and the archbishop admire her--P'tite Louison:" said Felix, nodding confidently at Medallion.
"Bien, you should see the linen and the petticoats!" said Isidore, the humorous one of the family.