made
from time to time, and when he reached the works he scarcely listened to
what his men had to say.

"Do what you think best," he said always. "Arrange the matter with
Talouel."

How long would this apathy last?

One afternoon, when old Coco was bringing them back to Maraucourt, they
heard a bell ringing.

"Stop," he said; "I think that's the fire alarm."

Perrine stopped the horse.

"Yes, it's a fire," he said, listening. "Do you see anything?"

"I can see a lot of black smoke over by the poplars on the left,"
replied Perrine.

"On the left? That is the way to the factory."

"Yes; shall I drive that way?" asked Perrine.

"Yes," replied M. Vulfran, indifferently.

It was not until they reached the village that they knew where the fire
was.

"Don't hurry, M. Vulfran," called out a peasant; "the fire ain't in your
house. It's La Tiburce's house that's on fire."

La Tiburce was a drunken creature who minded little babies who were too
young to be taken to the creche. She lived in a miserable tumble-down
house near the schools.

"Let us go there," said M. Vulfran.

They had only to follow the crowd, for the people, when they saw the
flames and smoke rising, were running excitedly to the spot where the
fire was. Before reaching the scene Perrine had to stop several times
for fear of running someone down. Nothing in the world would have made
the people get out of their way. Finally M. Vulfran got out of the
carriage and, guided by Perrine, walked through the crowd. As they
neared the entrance to the house, Fabry, wearing a helmet, for he was
chief of the firemen, came up to them.

"We've got it under control," he said, "but the house is entirely burnt,
and what's worse, several children, five or six, perhaps, are lost. One
is buried beneath, two have been suffocated, and we don't know where the
other three are."

"How did it happen?" asked M. Vulfran.

"La Tiburce was asleep, drunk. She is still in that condition. The
biggest of the children were playing with the matches. When the fire
began to flare up some of the children got out, and La Tiburce woke up.
She is so drunk she got out herself but left the little ones in the
cradle."

The sound of cries and loud talking could be heard in the yard. M.
Vulfran wanted to go in.

"Don't go in there, sir," said Fabry. "The mothers whose two children
were suffocated are carrying on pretty badly."

"Who are they?"

"Two women who work in your factory