
A bright June morning washes the grand Louis‑XVI rooms of a restored château in a soft, golden glow. Two sisters, the lively Zonzon, freshly returned from her medical training in Paris, and the more subdued Lucette, exchange teasing banter as they gaze out over a terrace spilling into a sea of blooming flowers. The opulent décor—mirrored panels, delicate lace, and ivory‑stained wood—creates a vivid backdrop for their intimate, almost theatrical reunion.
Against this elegant setting, Zonzon recounts a recent triumph: a child’s narrow escape from diphtheria, thanks to a serum she secured from the Institut Pasteur. The gratitude of a lieutenant and the presence of their father’s old friend, the ambitious entrepreneur Duclos, draw the sisters into a world where duty, love, and social expectation intersect. Their brief stay promises both heartfelt connections and the subtle undercurrents that will shape the choices they must soon confront.
Language
fr
Duration
~3 hours (196K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Giovanni Fini, Clarity and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
Release date
2016-04-09
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1870–1937
A French novelist, journalist, and man of letters, he wrote across fiction, essays, and social commentary in the early 20th century. His work reflects a lively interest in modern life, public debate, and the changing world around him.
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