All the shutters had been flung back at the administration building, the vast structure seemed alive again. And cheering rumours were circulating; it was said that the directors, deeply affected by the catastrophe, had rushed down to open their paternal arms to the wanderers from the settlements.
On avait rabattu toutes les persiennes de la Régie, le vaste bâtiment semblait revivre; et les meilleurs bruits en sortaient, on disait ces messieurs tres affectés par la catastrophe, accourus pour ouvrir des bras paternels aux égarés des corons.