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Chapter 20

The incident at the Mintzes' home seemed to fill Mary's veins with quicksilver. She circled the streets of Belleville, telling the story to everyone she knew-always in dead secret, of course. In this matter the tale spread from Belleville to the old Jewish quarter of the Platzel and from there to Montmartre. Mary saw to it that her friends, both near and far, should have something to smack their lips over. It was a choice morsel of gossip indeed.

With particular artistry and vivacity, she told the story in French to her fellow workers at the shop. She described dramatically how Rose's father had shrieked-"My daughter-a whore!"-and had broken one plate after another, while his red beard flamed. Even the usually doleful-looking Pierre had to join in the laughter. But the one who was most amused was Suzette, although she couldn't for the life of her understand why the girl's father insisted on marrying her off to this unkempt huckster instead of the gentleman she loved.

And when Mary enacted the scene in which Rose's mother attempted to drag her off to the doctor to discover whether her honor had been stained, Suzette simply held her sides as she howled with laughter. Maybe there were other reasons for her merriment; lately there was a great lightness in her heart. Her little Francois had come back to her, come back,

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