"Will you let me try?" said the boy, and very cleverly, without breaking it, he managed to draw out the wretched yet precious little bit of wood which was of such great importance to these poor men.
«Voulez-vous me laisser faire?» lui dit le jeune garçon. Et fort adroitement, sans le casser, il parvint à retirer ce petit morceau de bois, ce misérable et précieux fétu, qui, pour ces pauvres gens, avait une si grande importance!