Comme va le ruisseau

In a quiet riverside village, the arrival of a lone passenger on a third‑class carriage catches the eye of the ever‑observant Jean Fauche. He is a 28‑year‑old hunter‑artist who wears crisp new suits and carries a basket of fresh fish, his movements as steady as the train’s rhythm. The mysterious girl steps lightly from the platform, dropping a wooden chest that startles her, while Fauche watches her pink‑tinged dress ripple in the breeze. This brief encounter hints at a secret that may disturb his orderly world.

Fauche lives in a modest stone house by the river, its garden tangled with roses and a small grape arbor, and spends his spare moments painting tranquil landscapes from his attic studio. The village buzzes with speculation—tailor Thiérache, innkeeper Moya, and the gossiping women at the road’s edge note his strict Saturday departures and puzzling returns. Though his routine is predictable, the townsfolk sense hidden motives behind his frequent trips to town. Listeners are invited to follow the flow of daily life as curiosity about the stranger and Fauche’s passions begins to stir.