"Ah! Denise," he said, "I have not had a good meal for six months. I
eat only when driven to it by hunger."

The mother and sister went out and then returned; with the natural
housekeeping spirit of such women, who want to give their men material
comfort, they soon had a supper for their poor child. In this the
officials helped them; for an order had been given to do all that
could with safety be done for the condemned man. The des Vanneaulx had
contributed, with melancholy hope, toward the comfort of the man from
whom they still expected to recover their inheritance. Thus poor
Jean-Francois had a last glimpse of family joys, if joys they could be
called under such circumstances.

"Is my appeal rejected?" he said to Monsieur Bonnet.

"Yes, my child; nothing is left for you to do but to make a Christian
end. This life is nothing in comparison to that which awaits you; you
must think now of your eternal happiness. You can pay your debt to man
with your life, but God is not content with such a little thing as
that."

"Give up my life! Ah! you do not know all that I am leaving."

Denise looked at her brother as if to warn him that even in matters of
religion he must be cautious.

"Let us say no more about it," he resumed, eating the fruit with an
avidity which told of his inward fire. "When am I--"

"No, no! say nothing of that before me!" said the mother.