small bit of butter, spread it carefully on the bread, and ate it

standing. At this moment Charlie was sweetening his coffee. Pere

Grandet saw the bits of sugar, looked at his wife, who turned pale,

and made three steps forward; he leaned down to the poor woman's ear

"Where did you get all that sugar?"

"Nanon fetched it from Fessard's; there was none."

It is impossible to picture the profound interest the three women took

in this mute scene. Nanon had left her kitchen and stood looking into