Ah! if I could but see my daughter!" cried the poor woman.
"But whom is it possible for her to love ?" asked the notary.

"I'll answer for my Exupere." "It can't be Gobenheim," said Dumay, "for since the colonel's departure he has not spent nine hours a week in this house.

Besides, he doesn't even notice Modeste--that five-franc piece of a man! His uncle Gobenheim-Keller is all the time writing him, 'Get rich enough to marry a Keller.' With that idea in his mind you may be sure he doesn't know which sex Modeste belongs to.

No other men ever come here,--for of course I don't count Butscha, poor little fellow; I love him! He is your Dumay, madame," said the cashier to Madame Latournelle.

"Butscha knows very well that a mere glance at Modeste would cost him a Breton ducking.
Not a soul has any communication with this house.