The squire lifted him in his arms.
The child looked at him with such big wise eyes, as if he were taking it all in; and the old man kissed his little lips again and again.
Then he was passed round among all the other old fellows, and he looked at them all so gravely, as if he knew very well that they were all of them honourable men; but when Rudolf took him in his arms the child began to kick and crow, and fight with his little hands, and make a great fuss, as children are wont to do when they are in a good humour--who knows why ?--and Rudolf kissed the child's forehead.
"How glad he is," said the Nabob, "just as if he knew that from henceforth you will be his father." A few hours later the whole company sat down to supper.
They noticed that the Squire ate and drank nothing, but he explained that, after taking the holy bread and wine, he would not sit down to ordinary food, and meant to eat nothing till the morrow.
And the old servant waiting upon them whispered to Rudolf that his master had not touched a thing since yesterday evening..