He closed his eyes, from between the lids of which big tears began to roll while they were dressing him again.
Then Pierre recognised little Gustave Vigneron coming in, on his crutch, to take his first bath.

His relatives, his father, his mother, and his aunt, Madame Chaise, all three of substantial appearance and exemplary piety, had just fallen on their knees at the door.

Whispers ran through the crowd; it was said that the gentleman was a functionary of the Ministry of Finances.

However, while the child was beginning to undress, a tumult arose, and Father Fourcade and Father Massias, suddenly arriving, gave orders to suspend the immersions.

The great miracle was about to be attempted, the extraordinary favour which had been so ardently prayed for since the morning--the restoration of the dead man to life.
The prayers were continuing outside, rising in a furious appeal which died away in the sky of that warm summer afternoon.