Bingle about it first."
It was left that they were to visit the infant and its utterly
respectable parents at four on the following afternoon. Rouquin had
already assured Mr. Bingle that only the direst necessity made it
possible for the wretched father and mother to even THINK of giving up
their greatest treasure, this marvellous infant. In fact, it was only
because they loved the child so dearly that they were content to see
it pass out of their lives. For, said Monsieur Rouquin, they were so
poor and so proud that suicide was the only thing left for them in
this terrific struggle with adversity, and what was to become of the
child if they killed themselves? They would not murder their adored
one, and, while it was quite possible for the father and mother to
destroy themselves, one really couldn't expect a fifteen months old
child to take its own life by involuntary starvation--which was
unspeakable. And, said he, they couldn't consider suicide without
first making sure that their beloved was safely provided for. After
that--well, they could then go about it quite happily, if needs be.
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