One day after breakfast, a fine morning in April, Emmanuel called at the house just as Monsieur Claes was going out.

The aspect of his own house was so unendurable to Balthazar that he spent part of every day in walking about the ramparts.

Emmanuel made a motion as if to follow him, then he hesitated, seemed to gather up his courage, looked at Marguerite and remained.

The young girl felt sure that he wished to speak with her, and asked him to go into the garden; then she sent Felicie to Martha, who was sewing in the antechamber on the upper floor, and seated herself on a garden-seat in full view of her sister and the old duenna.
"Monsieur Claes is as much absorbed by grief as he once was by science," began the young man, watching Balthazar as he slowly crossed the court-yard.

"Every one in Douai pities him; he moves like a man who has lost all consciousness of life; he stops without a purpose, he gazes without seeing anything." "Every sorrow has its own expression," said Marguerite, checking her tears.