Les Idoles d'argile.

The narrative opens in a concierge's bustling lodge, where former soldiers and a resourceful ex-cantinière prepare a festive meal while a young worker, Anselme, watches with longing; convivial scenes among veterans reveal lingering political memories and generational contrasts. The story then follows a young man whose fragile hopes unravel after a baronial family moves to the city and a sixteen-year-old girl, Emma, appears, provoking surprise and deeper emotional response in Paul. Through intimate domestic episodes and encounters with higher society, the work examines social aspiration, nostalgia for past glories, and the painful transition from youthful illusion to disillusionment.