not seen Monsieur Blaise since the previous day, for he had remained at the Beauchenes’ near the body.  And as for Madame, she also had gone there early that morning, and had left instructions that Berthe was to be brought to her at noon, in order that she might not have to come back to give her the breast.  Then, as Marianne in surprise began to put some questions, the girl explained matters:  “Madame took a box of drawing materials with her.  I fancy that she is painting a portrait of the poor young man who is dead.”

As Mathieu and Marianne crossed the courtyard of the works, they felt oppressed by the grave-like silence which reigned in that great city of labor, usually so full of noise and bustle.  Death had suddenly passed by, and all the ardent life had at once ceased, the machinery had become cold and mute, the workshops silent and deserted.  There was not a sound, not a soul, not a puff of that vapor which was like the very breath of the place.  Its master dead, it had died also.  And the distress of the Froments increased when they passed from the works into the house, amid absolute solitude; the connecting gallery was wrapt in slumber, the staircase quivered amid the heavy silence, all the doors were open, as in some uninhabited house, long since deserted.  They found no servant in the antechamber, and even the dim drawing-room, where the blinds of embroidered muslin were lowered, while the armchairs were arranged in a circle, as on reception days, when numerous visitors were expected, at first seemed to them to be empty.  But at last they detected a shadowy form moving slowly to and fro in the middle of the room.  It was Morange, bareheaded and frock-coated; he had hastened thither at the first news with the same air as if he had been repairing to his office.  He seemed to be at home; it was he who received the visitors in a scared way, overcome as he was by this sudden demise, which recalled to him his daughter’s abominable death.  His heart-wound had reopened; he was livid, all in disorder, with his long gray beard streaming down, while he stepped hither and thither without a pause, making all the surrounding grief his own.

As soon as he recognized the Froments he also spoke the words which came from every tongue:  “What a frightful misfortune, an only son!”

Then he pressed their hands, and whispered and explained that Madame Beauchene, feeling quite exhausted, had withdrawn for a few moments, and that Beauchene and Blaise were making necessary arrangements downstairs.  And then, resuming his maniacal perambulations, he pointed towards an adjoining room, the folding doors of which were wide open.

“He is there, on the bed where he died.  There are flowers; it looks very nice.  You may go in.”