ell from her handkerchief, rolling into a drain.
Fortunately, the immaculate dress of the Virgin Mary did not get tainted with the terrifying filthy fingers of the waifs.
The "angel" stood still for a few seconds, seeming somewhat overwhelmed, but quickly regained composure.
She walked towards the waiting maid and lightly leaped onto the carriage with the help of the latter''s arm, her snow-white skirt fluttering as she disappeared behind the velvet curtain, just as spotless as when she arrived.
Little Edith witnessed the entire scene.
However, the rest of the audience seemed to have not noticed this interruption. The crowd murmured in admiration, clearly still entranced by the miraculous spectacle. It was difficult to tell if their eyes were not as keen as Edith''s or if their hearts were not as bright.
Only the painter next to her remained silent.
"You should have recorded that scene, Monsieur le painter!" the balding man of property reached out his chubby hand to pat Andre''s shoulder.
"I''ve already captured the scenery here. Let''s go," the painter abruptly packed up his tools and spoke to Edith.
The tall and the short walked in common silence side by side across the bridge, sharing the heavy atmosphere until they reached the archway of the bridge on the other side.
Underneath, four homeless children sat or lay in a pathetic state.
There lay a boy, gaunt and skeletal, with a bloated belly that betrayed a sinister ailment. It was unclear whether he still clung to life, lying unconsciously on the ground in a deathly pallor. Nearby, a pair of siblings huddled together, their faces caked with mud.
Further off, another little one remained alert and ga□□-ingly at the lucky fellows who had received the angel''s louis d''or. He made no attempt to fight for or beg for his own share, whether from lack of courage or simply because hunger had left him too weak to move.
The footsteps of the painter came to a halt.
"Wait here for me," he said hastily as he turned into the bakeshop at the end of the street.
When he returned, he held in one hand a four-pound loaf of white bread, and in the other a large bucket of milk. With a box cutter, he sliced thes