could be profitable. One night he had invited the local
church council to his home. It was their first meeting after
the summer holidays, so the agenda was rather full.
The most important issue no doubt was going to be the resto
ration of the church. Rousseau expected to be able to do both
the council and the company a pleasure, as well as himself.
He knew that some members would be critical. A modern buil
ding company is not fit to restore an old church, they rea
soned. Nonsense, he thought, but he took precautions by
having his wife get the best wine from their cellar, in or
der to create a 'fertile' atmosphere.
All members of the council were present at eight o'clock
sharp. Just when they were about to begin, deafening noises
came from the garden. Disturbedly they looked up from their
papers. "The dogs, nearly dinner time", Rousseau explained.
"But don't worry. Our son will have them quiet in no time.
They respect that boy, you know."
With his mother admiringly looking at him from the kitchen,
before returning to the living-room, Jean-Jacques stormed
into the garden. He reached for his stick, but it was not
in the usual place. He looked around and finally found it,
standing against the drain-pipe of the garage.
Arriving at the kennelhe saw that the lock had been bro
ken. The door rattled in the wind. It made him feel a bit
uneasy. Then he heard a sniffing sound behind him and he
turned around.
"You see! I told you. Not even a minute's work", Rousseau
said proudly to his fellow council members. They agreed that
•the boy must have the dogs' respect and proceeded to con
tinue the meeting.
At half past eleven the last of the council members had left.
Rousseau was in an excellent mood. The meeting had been a
fruitful one: the restoration assignment was as good as
certain. When he walked into the kitchen, where his wife was
cleaning up, he noticed that the dogs' food was still on the
table
"Haven't they eaten?, he wondered.
"No, his wife answered. "They didn't want any of it. And they
had scarcely touched their bones either. But it's probably
nothing. Nature's way, you know."
"Perhaps you're right. Anyway, I'll ask Jean-Jacques if he's
noticed anything unusual", said Rousseau.
"Well, why don't you ask him in the morning", she replied, "I
think he's asleep now. He deserves his rest, don't you think?"
