She had told Rosalie that she would call at Mother Françoise's house on Monday to see if Mombleux had need of her services. Rosalie came to meet her and said that as no letters had come from England that Monday, there would not be any translations to make that day, but perhaps there would be something for the next day. This was at the luncheon hour, so Perrine returned to the factory. It had just struck two when Ninepin hopped up to her on his wooden leg and told her that she was wanted at the offices at once.
"What's that to do with me? They just sent word for you to go to the office ... go on," he said, roughly.
She hurried off. She could not understand. If it was a matter of helping Mombleux with a translation, why should she have to go to the office, where everyone could see her and know that he had had to ask for her help?
She quickly went up the steps, where she saw Talouel standing outside waiting for her.
"Are you the girl who speaks English?" he asked. "Now, no lies, 'cause you speak French without an accent."
"My mother was English and my father was French," replied Perrine, "so I speak both languages."
"Good. You are to go to Saint-Pipoy. Monsieur Paindavoine wants you."
She was so surprised at this news that she stood staring at the manager in amazement.
"I was taken aback. I'm a stranger here and I don't know where Saint-Pipoy is."
"You won't be lost; you are to go in the carriage," said the manager. "Here, William...."
M. Paindavoine's horse and carriage, which had been standing in the shade, now drew up.
"Here's the girl," said the manager to a young man. "Take her to M. Paindavoine quickly."
Perrine was already down the steps, and was about to take her seat beside William when he stopped her with a sign of his hand.
There was a narrow seat for one person at the back. She got up into it and they started off at a brisk trot.
When they had left the village behind William, slacking the horse's speed, turned round to Perrine.
"You're going to have a chance to please the boss," he said.
"He's got some English mechanics come over to put a machine together, and they can't understand each other. He's got M. Mombleux there, who says he can speak English, but if he does it isn't the same English as these Englishmen speak. They keep on jabbering, but don't seem to understand, and the boss is mad. It makes you split your sides to hear 'em. At last M. Mombleux couldn't go on any longer, and to calm the boss he said that he knew of a girl named Aurelie in the factory who spoke English, and the boss made me come off at once for you."