CHAPTER VII.

AN EVENING AT THE FARM.

Perhaps a more gratifying sight does not exist than the interior of a

large farm-kitchen prepared for the evening meal, especially during the

winter season. Its bright wood fire, the long table covered with the

savoury, smoking dishes, the huge tankards of foaming beer or cider,

with the happy countenances scattered round, speak of peaceful labour

and healthful industry. The farm-kitchen of Bouqueval was a fine

exemplification of this remark. Its immense open chimney, about six feet

high and eight feet wide, resembled the yawning mouth of some huge oven.

On the hearth blazed and sparkled enormous logs of beech or oak; and

from this prodigious brazier there issued forth such a body of light, as

well as heat, that the large lamp suspended from the centre beam sunk

into insignificance, and was rendered nearly useless. Every variety of

culinary utensils, sparkling in all the brightness of the most elaborate

cleanliness, and composed invariably of copper, brass, and tin, glowed

in the bright radiance of the winter fire, as they stood ranged with the

utmost nicety and effect on their appropriate shelves. An old-fashioned

cistern of elaborately polished copper showed its bright face, polished

as a mirror; and close beside stood a highly polished bread-trough and

cover, composed of walnut-tree wood, rubbed by the hand of housewifery

till you could see your face in it and from which issued a most tempting

smell of hot bread. A long and substantial table occupied the centre of

the kitchen; a tablecloth, which, though coarse in texture, vied with

the falling snow for whiteness, covered its entire length; while for

each expected guest was placed an earthenware plate, brown without, but

white within, and by its side a knife, fork, and spoon, lustrous as

silver itself. In the midst of the table, an immense tureen of vegetable

soup smoked like the crater of a volcano, and diffused its savoury

vapours over a dish of ham and greens, flanked by a most formidable

array of mutton, most relishly stewed with onions and potatoes. Below

was placed a large joint of roast veal, followed by two great plates of

winter salad, supported by a couple of baskets of apples; and a similar

number of cheeses completed the arrangements of the table. Three or four

stone pitchers filled with sparkling cider, and a like quantity of

loaves of brown bread, equal in size to the stones of a windmill, were

placed at the discretionary use of the supping party.

An old, shaggy, black shepherd dog, almost toothless, the superannuated

patriarch of all the canine tribe employed on the farm, was, by reason

of his great age and long services, indulged with permission to enjoy

the cheering warmth of the chimney-corner; but, using his privilege with

the utmost modesty and discretion, this venerable servitor, who answered

to the pastoral name of Lysander, lay quietly stretched out in a secure

side-nook, his nose resting on his paws, watching with the deepest

attention the various culinary preparations which preceded the supper.

The bill of fare thus presented to the reader, as the ordinary mode of

living at the farm of Bouqueval, may strike some of our readers as

unnecessarily sumptuous; but Madame Georges, faithfully following out

the wishes of Rodolph, endeavoured by all possible means to improve the

comforts of the labourers on the farm, who were always selected as being

the most worthy and industrious individuals of their district. They

were well paid, liberally treated, and so kindly used that to be

engaged on the Bouqueval farm was the highest ambition of all the best

labourers in that part of the country--an ambition which most

essentially promoted the welfare and advantage of the masters they then

served; for no applicant for employment at Bouqueval could obtain a

favourable hearing, unless he came provided with most satisfactory

testimonials from his last employer.

Thus, though on a very small scale, had Rodolph created a species of

model farm, which had for its aim not only the improvement of animals

and agricultural operations, but, above all, improving the nature of man

himself; and this he effected by making it worth their while to be

active, honest, and intelligent.

After having completed all the preparations for supper, and placed on

the table a jug of wine to accompany the dessert, the farm-cook sounded

the welcome tocsin, which told all that the cheering meal was prepared,

and, their evening toil concluded, they might freely enjoy the delights

of wholesome and temperate refreshment. Ere the sound had ceased to

vibrate on the ear, a merry, joyous throng, composed of men and maidens

to the number of twelve or fifteen, crowded around the table; the men

had open, manly countenances, the women looked healthy and

good-humoured, while the young girls belonging to the party wore the

brightest glow of youth and innocence. Every face was lighted up with

frank gaiety, content, and the satisfaction arising from the

consciousness of having well fulfilled one's duty. Thus happily prepared

in mind and body to do justice to the excellent fare set before them,

the happy party took their appointed places at table.

The upper end was occupied by an old, white-haired labourer, whose fine,

bold, yet sensible expression of face, bespoke him a descendant of the

ancient Gaulish mothers of the soil.

Father Châtelain (for so was this Nestor called) had worked on the farm

from his early childhood. When Rodolph purchased the farm, the old

servant had been strongly recommended to him, and he was forthwith

raised to the rank of overlooker, and, under the orders of Madame

Georges, general superintendent of all outdoor work; and unbounded,

indeed, was the influence possessed by Father Châtelain by virtue of his

age, his knowledge, and experience.

Every one having taken their seat, Father Châtelain, having fervently

invoked a blessing, then, in pursuance of an ancient and pious custom,

marked one of the loaves with the figure of a cross, and cut off a large

slice as the share of the Virgin or the poor, then, pouring out a glass

of wine with a similar consecration to charitable purposes, he

reverently placed both bread and wine on a plate placed in the centre of

the table purposely to receive them. At this moment the yard dogs barked

furiously; old Lysander replied by a low growl, and, curling back his

upper lip, displayed two or three still formidable fangs.

"Some person is passing near the wall of the courtyard," observed Father

Châtelain.

Scarcely had the words been uttered, than the bell of the great gate

sounded.

"Who can this possibly be at so late an hour?" said the old labourer;

"every one belonging to the place is in. Go and see who it is, Jean

René."

The individual thus addressed was a stout, able-bodied young labourer on

the farm, who was then busily employed blowing his scalding hot soup,

with a force of lungs that Æolus himself might have envied; but, used to

prompt obedience, in a moment the half-raised spoon was deposited in its

place, and, half stifling a sigh of regret, he departed on his errand.

"This is the first time our good Madame Georges and Mlle. Marie have

failed paying a visit to the warm chimney-corner, and looking on whilst

we took our supper, for this long time," said Father Châtelain. "I am

hungry as a hunter, but I shall not relish my supper half so well."

"Madame Georges is in the chamber of Mlle. Marie, who found herself

somewhat indisposed on her return from escorting M. le Curé to the

rectory," replied Claudine, the girl who had conducted La Goualeuse back

from the rectory, and thus unconsciously frustrated the evil designs of

the Chouette.

"I trust Mlle. Marie is only indisposed, not seriously ill, is she,

Claudine?" inquired the old man, with almost paternal anxiety.

"Oh, dear, no, Father Châtelain! God forbid! I hope and believe our dear

mademoiselle is only just a little struck with the cold of the night,

and her walk perhaps fatigued her. I trust she will be quite well by

to-morrow; indeed Madame Georges told me as much, and said that, if she

had had any fears, she should have sent to Paris for M. David, the negro

doctor, who took such care of mademoiselle when she was so ill. Well, I

cannot make out how any one can endure a black doctor! For my part I

should not have the slightest confidence in anything he said or did. No,

no! if one must have a doctor, let it be a Christian man with a white

skin; but a downright blackamoor! O saints above! why, the very sight of

him by my bedside would kill me!"

"But did not this Monsieur David cure Mlle. Marie from the long illness

with which she suffered when she first came here?" inquired the old man.

"Yes, Father Châtelain, he certainly did."

"Well?"

"Ah! but for all that, Father Châtelain, a doctor with a black face is

enough to terrify any one--I should scream myself into fits if he were

to come rolling up the great whites of his eyes at me."

"But is not this M. David the same person who cured Dame Anica of that

dreadful wound in her leg, which had confined her to her bed for upwards

of three years?"

"Yes, exactly so, Father Châtelain; he certainly did set old Dame Anica

up again."

"Well, then, my child?"

"Nay, but only think!--a black man! and when one is ill, too! when one

can so ill bear up against such horrid things. If he were only a little

dark, or even deep brown, but quite, quite a black--all black--oh,

Father Châtelain, I really cannot bring myself to think of it!"

"Tell me, my child, what colour is your favourite heifer Musette?"

"Oh, white--white as a swan, Father Châtelain; and such a milcher! I can

say that for the poor thing without the least falsehood, a better cow we

have not got on the farm."

"And your other favourite, Rosette?"

"Rosette? Oh, she is as black as a raven, not one white hair about her I

should say; and, indeed, to do her justice, she is a first-rate milcher

also. I hardly know which is the best, she or my pretty Musette."

"And what coloured milk does she give?"

"Why, white, of course, Father Châtelain; I really thought you knew

that."

"Is her milk as white and as good as the milk of your snowy pet,

Musette?"

"Every bit as good in colour and quality."

"Although Rosette is a black cow?"

"To be sure! why, Father Châtelain, what difference can it possibly make

to the milk whether the cow that gives it is black, white, red, or

brown?"

"How, then, my good girl, can it in any way signify whether a doctor has

a black or white skin, or what his complexion may be?"

"Well," answered Claudine, fairly hunted into a corner from which no

argument could rescue her,--"well, as regards what makes a black doctor

not so good as a white one, it is--it is, because a black skin is so

very ugly to look at, and a white one is so much more agreeable to one's

eyes; I'm sure I can't think of any other reason, Father Châtelain, if I

try for ever; but with cows the colour of the skin makes not the very

least difference, of that you may be assured; but, then, you know

there's a deal of difference between a cow and a man."

These not very clear physiognomical reflections of Claudine, touching

the effect of light or dark skins in the human and animal race, were

interrupted by the return of Jean René, blowing his fingers with

animation as he had before blown his soup.

"Oh, how cold! how cold it is this night!" exclaimed he, on entering;

"it is enough to freeze one to death; it is a pretty deal more snug and

comfortable in-doors than out this bitter night. Oh, how cold it is!"

"Why,--

'The frost that cometh from North and East

Biteth the most and ceaseth the least.'

Don't you know that, my lad?" said the old superintendent Châtelain.

"But who was it that rang so late?"

"A poor blind man and a boy who leads him about, Father Châtelain."

"And what does this poor blind man want?" inquired Châtelain.

"The poor man and his son were going by the cross-road to Louvres, and

have lost themselves in the snow; and as the cold is enough to turn a

man into an icicle, and the night is pitch dark, the poor blind father

has come to entreat permission for himself and lad to pass the night on

the farm; he says he shall be for ever thankful for leave to lie on a

little straw under a hovel, or in any out-building."

"Oh, as for that, I am quite sure that Madame Georges, who never refuses

charity to any unfortunate being, will willingly permit them to do so;

but we must first acquaint her with it; go, Claudine, and tell her the

whole story." Claudine disappeared.

"And where is this poor man waiting?" asked Father Châtelain.

"In the little barn just by."

"But why in the barn? why put him there?"

"Bless you, if I had left him in the yard, the dogs would have eaten him

up alive! Why, Father Châtelain, it was no use for me to call out

'Quiet, Médor! come here, Turk! down, Sultan!' I never saw dogs in such

a fury. And, besides, we don't use our dogs on the farm to fly at poor

folks, as they are trained to do at other places."

"Well, my lads, it seems that the 'share for the poor' has not been laid

aside in vain to-night. But try and sit a little closer; there, that'll

do; now put two more plates and knives and forks for this blind

traveller and his boy, for I feel quite certain what Madame Georges's

answer will be, and that she will desire them to be housed here for the

night."

"It is really a thing I can't make out," said Jean René, "about the dogs

being so very violent, especially Turk, who went with Claudine this

evening to the rectory. Why, when I stroked him, to try and pacify him,

I felt his coat standing up on end like so many bristles of a porcupine.

Now, what do you say to that, eh, Father Châtelain--you who know almost

everything?"

"Why, my lad, I, 'who know everything,' say just this, that the beasts

know far more than I do, and can see farther. I remember, in the autumn,

when the heavy rains had so swollen the little river, I was returning

with my team-horses one dark night--I was riding upon Cuckoo, the old

roan horse, and deuce take me if I could make out any spot it would be

safe to wade through, for the night was as dark as the mouth of a pit.

Well, I threw the bridle on old Cuckoo's back, and he soon found what,

I'll answer for it, none of us could have discovered. Now, who taught

the dumb brute to know the safe from the unsafe parts of the stream, let

me ask you?"

"Ay, Father Châtelain, that's what I was waiting to ask you. Who taught

the old roan to discover danger and escape from it so cleverly?"

"The same Almighty wisdom which instructs the swallow to build in our

chimneys, and guides the marten to make his nest among the reeds of our

banks, my lad. Well, Claudine," said the ancient oracle of the kitchen

to the blooming dairymaid, who just then entered, bearing on her arms

two pairs of snowy white sheets, from which an odoriferous smell of sage

and thyme was wafted along,--"well, I make no doubt but Madame Georges

has sent permission for these poor creatures, the blind man and his

child, to sleep here, has she not?"

"These sheets are to prepare beds for them, in the little room at the

end of the passage," said Claudine.

"Go and bid them come in, then, Jean René; and you, Claudine, my good

girl, put a couple of chairs near the fire--they will be glad of a good

warm before sitting down to table."

The furious barking of the dogs was now renewed, mingled with the voice

of Jean René, who was endeavoring to pacify them; the door of the

kitchen was abruptly opened, and the Schoolmaster and Tortillard entered

with as much precipitation as though they feared a pursuit from some

dangerous foe.

"For the love of heaven, keep off your dogs!" cried the Schoolmaster, in

the utmost terror; "they have been trying to bite us!"

"They have torn a great bit out of my blouse," whined Tortillard,

shivering with cold and pale with fear.

"Don't be frightened, good man," said Jean René, shutting the door

securely; "but I never before saw our dogs in such a perfect fury--it

must be the cold makes them so spiteful; perhaps, being half frozen,

they fancied biting you would serve to warm them--there is no knowing

what mere animals may mean by what they do."

"Why, are you going to begin, too?" exclaimed the old farmer, as

Lysander, who had hitherto lain perfectly happy in the radiance of the

glowing fire, started up, and, growling fiercely, was about to fly at

the strangers. "This old dog is quiet enough, but, having heard the

other dogs make such a furious noise, he thinks he must do the same.

Will you lie down and be quiet, you old brute? Do you hear, sir? lie

down!"

At these words from Father Châtelain, accompanied by a significant

motion of the foot, Lysander, with a low, deep growl of dissatisfaction,

slowly returned to his favourite corner by the hearth, while the

Schoolmaster and Tortillard remained trembling by the kitchen-door, as

though fearful of approaching farther. The features of the ruffian were

so hideous, from the frightful effects produced by the cold, that some

of the servants in the kitchen shuddered with alarm, while others

recoiled in disgust; this impression was not lost on Tortillard, who

felt reassured by the terrors of the villagers, and even felt proud of

the repulsiveness of his companion. This first confusion over, Father

Châtelain, thinking only of worthily discharging the duties of

hospitality, said to the Schoolmaster:

"Come, my good friend--come near the fire and warm yourself thoroughly,

and then you shall have some supper with us; for you happened to come

very fortunately, just as we were sitting down to table. Here, sit down,

just where I have placed your chair. But what am I thinking about?"

added the worthy old labourer. "I ought to have spoken to your son, not

you, seeing that it has pleased God to take away your eyesight--a heavy

loss, a heavy loss; but let us hope all for your good, my friend, though

you may not now think so. Here, my boy, lead your father to that snug

place in the chimney-corner."

"Yes, kind sir," drawled out Tortillard, with a nasal twang and canting,

hypocritical tone; "may God bless you for your charity to the poor

blind! Here, father, take my arm; lean on my shoulder, father; take

care, take care, gently;" and, with affected zeal and tenderness, the

urchin guided the steps of the brigand till they reached the indicated

spot. As the pair approached Lysander, he uttered a low, growling noise;

but as the Schoolmaster brushed past him, and the sagacious animal had

full scent of his garments, he broke out into one of those deep howls

with which, it is asserted by the superstitious, dogs frequently

announce an approaching death.

"What, in the devil's name, do all these cursed animals mean by their

confounded noise?" said the Schoolmaster to himself. "Can they smell the

blood on my clothes, I wonder? for I now recollect I wore the trousers I

have on at present the night the cattle-dealer was murdered."

"Did you notice that?" inquired Jean René of Father Châtelain. "Why, I

vow that, as often as old Lysander had caught scent of the wandering

stranger, he actually set up a regular death-howl."

And this remark was followed up by a most singular confirmation of the

fact; the cries of Lysander were so loud and mournful that the other

dogs caught the sound (for the farmyard was only separated from the

kitchen by a glazed window in the latter), and, according to the custom

of the canine race, they each strove who should outdo the other in

repeating and prolonging the funereal wail, which, according to vulgar

belief, always foretells death. Though but little given to superstitious

dread, the farm-people looked from one to another with a feeling of

wonder not unmixed with awe. Even the Schoolmaster himself, diabolically

hardened as he was, felt a cold shudder steal over him at the thought

that all these fatal sounds burst forth upon the approach of him--the

self-convicted murderer! while Tortillard, too audacious and hardened to

enter into such alarms, with all the infidelity in which he had been

trained, even from his mother's arms, looked on with delighted mockery

at the universal panic, and was, perhaps, the only person present devoid

of an uneasy feeling; but, once freed from his apprehensions of

suffering from the violence of the animals, he listened even with

pleasure to the horrible discord of their long-drawn-out wailings, and

felt almost tempted to pardon them the fright they had originally

occasioned him, in consideration of the perfect terror they had struck

into the inhabitants of the farm, and for the gratification he derived

from the convulsive horror of the Schoolmaster. But after the momentary

stupor had passed away Jean René again quitted the kitchen, and the loud

cracking of his whip soon put an end to the prophetic howlings of Médor,

Turk, and Sultan, and quickly dispersed them to their separate kennels,

and as the noise ceased, the gloomy cloud passed away from the kitchen,

and the peasants looked up with the same honest cheerfulness they had

worn upon the entrance of the two travellers. Ere long they had left off

wondering at the repulsive ugliness of the Schoolmaster, and only

thought with pity of his great affliction, in being blind; they

commiserated the lameness of the poor boy, admired the interesting

sharpness of his countenance, the deep, cute glance of his ever-moving

eye, and, above all, loaded him with praises for the extreme care and

watchfulness with which he attended to his afflicted parent. The

appetite of the labourers, which had been momentarily forgotten, now

returned with redoubled violence, and for a time nothing could be heard

but the clattering of plates and rattling of knives and forks. Still,

however busily employed with their suppers, the servants assembled round

the table, both male and female, could not but remark, with infinite

pleasure, the tender assiduity of the lad towards the blind creature who

sat beside him. Nothing could exceed the devoted affection and filial

care with which Tortillard prepared his meat for him, cutting both that

and his bread with most accurate nicety, pouring out his drink, and

never attempting even to taste a morsel himself, till his father

expressed himself as having completed his supper. But, for all this

dutiful attention, the young ruffian took ample and bitter revenge.

Instigated as much by an innate spirit of cruelty as the desire of

imitation natural to his age, Tortillard found an equal enjoyment with

the Chouette in having something to torment (_a bête de souffrance_);

and it was a matter of inexpressible exultation to his wretched mind

that he, a poor, distorted, crippled, abject creature, should have it in

his power to tyrannise over so powerful and ferocious a creature as the

Schoolmaster,--it was like torturing a muzzled tiger. He even refined

his gratification, by compelling his victim to endure all the agonies he

inflicted, without wincing or exhibiting the slightest external sign of

his suffering. Thus he accompanied each outward mark of devoted

tenderness towards his supposed parent, by aiming a severe kick against

the Schoolmaster's legs, on one of which there was (in common with many

who had long worked in the galleys) a deep and severe wound, the effect

of the heavy iron chain worn during the term of punishment around the

right leg; and, by way of compelling the miserable sufferer to exercise

a greater degree of stoical courage, the urchin always seized the moment

when the object of his malice was either drinking or speaking.

"Here, dear father! here is a nice peeled nut," said Tortillard, placing

on the plate of his supposed parent a nut carefully prepared.

"Good boy," said old Châtelain, smiling kindly at him. Then, addressing

the bandit, he added: "However great may be your affliction, my friend,

so good a son is almost sufficient to make up even for the loss of

sight; but Providence is so gracious, he never takes away one blessing

without sending another."

"You are quite right, kind sir! My lot is a very hard one, and, but for

the noble conduct of my excellent child, I--"

A sharp cry of irrepressible anguish here broke from the quivering lips

of the tortured man; the son of Bras Rouge had this time aimed his blow

so effectually, that the point of his heavy-nailed shoe had reached the

very centre of the wound, and produced unendurable agony.

"Father! dear father! what is the matter?" exclaimed Tortillard, in a

whimpering voice; then, suddenly rising, he threw both his arms round

the Schoolmaster's neck, whose first impulse of rage and pain was to

stifle the limping varlet in his Herculean grasp; and so powerfully did

he compress the boy's chest against his own, that his impeded

respiration vented itself in a low moaning sound. A few minutes, and

Tortillard's last prank would have been played; but, reflecting that the

lad was for the present indispensable to the furtherance of the schemes

he had on hand, the Schoolmaster, by a violent effort, controlled his

desire to annihilate his tormentor, and contented himself with pushing

him off his shoulders back into his own chair. The sympathising group

around the table were far from seeing through all this, and merely

considered these close embraces as an interchange of paternal and filial

tenderness, while the half suffocation and deadly pallor of Tortillard

they attributed to emotion caused by the sudden illness of his beloved

father.

"What ailed you just now, my good man?" inquired Father Châtelain; "only

see, you have quite frightened your poor boy. Why, he looks pale as

death, and can scarcely breathe. Come, my little man; you must not take

on so--your father is all right again."

"I beg your pardon, gentlemen all," replied the Schoolmaster,

controlling himself with much difficulty, for the pain he was still

enduring was most excruciating. "I am better now. I'll tell you, with

your kind leaves, all about it. You see I am by trade a working

locksmith, and, one day that I was employed in beating out a huge bar of

red hot iron, it fell over on my two legs, and burnt them so dreadfully

that it has never healed; unfortunately, just now, I happened to strike

the leg that is worst against the table, and the sudden agony it

occasioned me drew forth the sudden cry which so much disturbed all this

good company, and for which I humbly beg pardon."

"Poor dear father!" whined out Tortillard, casting a look of fiendish

malice at the shivering Schoolmaster, and wholly recovered from his late

attack of excessive emotion. "Poor father! you have indeed got a bad leg

nobody can cure. Ah, kind gentlemen, I hope you will never have such a

shocking wound, and be obliged to hear all the doctors say it never will

get well. No! never--never. Oh, my dear, dear father! how I wish I could

but suffer the pain instead of you!"

At this tender, moving speech, the females present expressed the utmost

admiration for the dutiful speaker, and began feeling in their vast

pockets for some more substantial mark of their regard.

"It is unlucky, my honest friend," said old Châtelain, addressing the

Schoolmaster, "you had not happened to come to this farm about three

weeks ago, instead of to-night."

"And why so, if you please?"

"Because we had staying for a few days in the house a celebrated Paris

doctor, who has an infallible remedy for all diseases of the legs. A

worthy old woman, belonging to our village, had been confined to her

bed upwards of three years with some affection of the legs. Well, this

doctor, being here, as I said, heard of the case, applied an unguent to

the wounds, and now, bless you, she is as surefooted, ay, and as swift,

too, as any of our young girls; and the first holiday she makes she

intends walking to the house of her benefactor, in the Allée des Veuves,

at Paris, to return her grateful thanks. To be sure it is a good step

from hence, but then, as Mother Anica says--Why, what has come over you

again, my friend? Is your leg still so painful?"

The mention of the Allée des Veuves had recalled such frightful

recollections to the Schoolmaster, that, involuntarily, a cold shudder

shook his frame, while a fearful spasm, by contracting his ghastly

countenance, made it appear still more hideous.

"Yes," replied he, trying to conceal his emotion, "a sudden darting pain

seized me, and--Pray excuse my interrupting your kind and sensible

discourse, and be pleased to proceed."

"It really is a great pity," resumed the old labourer, "that this

excellent doctor should not be with us at present; but I tell you what,

he is as good as he is skilful, and I am quite sure if you let your

little lad conduct you to his house when you return to Paris, that he

will cure you. His address is not difficult to recollect, it is 17 Allée

des Veuves. Even should you forget the number, it will not matter, for

there are but very few doctors in the neighbourhood, and no other negro

surgeon,--for, only imagine, this clever, kind, and charitable man is a

black, but his heart is white and good. His name is David,--Doctor

David,--you will be able to remember that name, I dare say."

The features of the Schoolmaster were so seamed and scarred that it was

difficult to perceive when his colour varied. He did, however, on the

present occasion, turn ghastly pale as he first heard the exact number

mentioned of Rodolph's house, and afterwards the description of the

black doctor,--of David, the negro surgeon, who, by Rodolph's orders,

had inflicted on him the fearful punishment, the terrible results of

which were each hour more painfully developed. Father Châtelain,

however, was too much interested in his subject to notice the deadly

paleness of the Schoolmaster, and proceeded with his discourse:

"When you leave us, my poor fellow, we will be sure to write his address

on a slip of paper and give it to your son, for I know that, besides

putting you in a certain way to be cured of your painful wound, it would

be gratifying to M. David to be able to relieve your sufferings. Oh, he

is so good,--never so happy as when he has rendered any person a

service. I wish he had not always that mournful and dejected look. I

fear he has some heavy care near his heart; and he is so good, so full

of pity for all who suffer. Well, well, Providence will bless him in

another world; but come, friend, let us drink to the health and

happiness of your future benefactor,--here take this mug."

"No, thank you!" returned the Schoolmaster, with a gloomy air; "none for

me. I--I am not thirsty, and I never drink unless I am."

"Nay, friend, but this is good old wine I have poured out for you; not

cider," said the labourer. "Many tradespeople do not drink as good.

Bless your heart, this farm is not conducted as other farms are,--what

do you think of our style of living, by the by? have you relished your

supper?"

"All very good," responded the Schoolmaster mechanically, more and more

absorbed in the painfulness of his ideas.

"Well, then, as we live one day, so we do another. We work well, we live

well, we have a good conscience, and an equally good bed to rest upon

after the labours of the day. Our lives roll on in peace and

contentment. There are seven labourers constantly employed on the farm,

who are paid almost double wages to what others get; but then I can

venture to assert, that if we are paid double, we do as much work among

us as fourteen ordinary labourers would do. The mere husbandry servants

have one hundred and fifty crowns a year, the dairy-women and other

females engaged about the place sixty crowns, and a tenth share of the

produce of the farm is divided among us all. You may suppose we do not

idle away much time, or fail to make hay while the sun shines, for

Nature is a bountiful mother, and ever returns a hundredfold to those

who assiduously seek her favour; the more we give her, the more she

returns."

"Your master cannot get very rich if he treats you and pays you thus

liberally," said the Schoolmaster.

"Oh, our master is different to all others, and has a mode of repaying

himself peculiarly his own."

"From what you say," answered the blind man, hoping by engaging in

conversation to escape from the gloominess of his own thoughts, "your

master must be a very extraordinary person."

"Indeed he is, my good man, a most uncommon master to meet with. Now, as

chance has brought you among us, and a strange though a lucky chance for

you it has proved, lying out of the highroad as this village does, it is

so very seldom any stranger ever finds it out. Well, I was going to say,

here you are, and no fault to find with your quarters, is there? Now, in

all human probability, when you turn your back upon the place you will

never return to it, but you shall not depart without hearing from me a

description of our master and all he has done for the farm, upon

condition that you promise to repeat it again wherever you go, and to

whomsoever you may meet with. You will see, I mean, I beg pardon, you

will then be able to understand."

"I listen to you," answered the Schoolmaster; "proceed."

"And I can promise you you will not be throwing away your time by

listening," replied the venerable Châtelain. "Now, one day our master

thought all at once: 'Here am I, rich enough to eat two dinners a day if

I liked, but I don't. Now, suppose I were to provide a meal for those

who have none at all, and enable such as can hardly procure half a

dinner to enjoy as much good food as they desired, would not that be

better than over-indulging myself? So it shall be,' says he, and away he

goes to work, and, first thing, he buys this farm, which was not much of

a concern then, and scarcely kept a couple of ploughs at work; and,

being born and bred on the place, I ought to know something about it.

Next, master made considerable additions to the farm. I'll tell you all

about that by and by. At the head of the farm he placed a most worthy

and respectable female, who had known a great deal of trouble in her

past life--master always chose out people for their goodness and their

misfortunes--and, when he brought the person I am telling you of here,

he said to her in my hearing, 'I wish this place to be like the Temple

of our great Maker, open to the deserving and the afflicted, but closed

against the wicked and hardened reprobate.' So idle beggars are always

turned from the gate; but those who are able and willing to work have

always the opportunity set before them: the charity of labour, our

master says, is no humiliation to him who receives it, but a favour and

service conferred on the person whose labour is thus done; and the rich

man who does not act upon this principle but ill employs his wealth. So

said our master. But he did more than talk--he acted. There was formerly

a road from here to Ecouen, which cut off a good mile of distance, but,

Lord love you! it was one great rutty bog, impossible to get up or down

it; it was the death of every horse, and certain destruction to every

vehicle that attempted to pass through it. A little labour, and a

trifling amount of money from each farmer in the adjoining country

would soon have repaired the road; but they never could be brought to

any unanimity on the subject, and, in proportion as one farmer would be

anxious to contribute towards putting the road in order, the others

would invariably decline sending either men or money to assist. So our

master, perceiving all this, said, 'The road shall be repaired; but as

those who can afford to contribute will not, and as it is more for

convenience and accommodation to the rich than necessity for the poor,

it shall first become useful to those who would work if they could get

it to do, who have heart, and hands, and courage, but no employ. Well,

this road shall be reserved as a constant occupation for persons of this

description. Horsemen and carriages belonging to the rich and affluent,

who care not how roads are repaired, so that they can travel at their

ease, may go round by the farther side.' So, for example, whenever a

strong, sturdy fellow presented himself at the farm, pleading hunger and

want of work, I'd say to him, 'Here, my lad; here is a basin of warm

nourishing soup--take it and welcome; then, if you wish for work, here

is a pickaxe and spade; one of our people will show you the Ecouen road;

make every day twelve feet of it good, by spreading and breaking the

flints; and every evening, after your work is examined, you shall

receive at the rate of forty sous for the quantity named; twenty sous

for half as much; ten sous for a quarter; for less than that, nothing at

all.' Then, towards evening, upon my return from labour, I used to go on

the road, measure their work, and examine whether it was well done."

"And only to think," interposed Jean René, in a fit of virtuous

indignation, "only think, now, of there coming two heartless vagabonds,

who drank their soup and walked off with the pickaxe and shovel. It is

enough to sicken one of doing good or trying to benefit one's fellow

creatures."

"Quite right, Master René," exclaimed the other labourers; "so it is."

"Come, come, lads," resumed Father Châtelain, "don't be too warm. Just

see here. We might as well say it is useless to plant trees, or sow

grain, because there are caterpillars, weevils, and other injurious

insects that gnaw the leaves or devour the seeds put in the ground. No,

no! we destroy the vermin. But God Almighty, who is no niggard, causes

fresh buds to burst forth and new ears of corn to sprout; the damage is

abundantly repaired, and no trace remains of the mischievous insects

which have passed over our work. Am I not right, my friend?" said the

old labourer, addressing the Schoolmaster.

"No doubt--no doubt," replied the latter, who had appeared for some time

past lost in a train of serious meditation.

"Then, as for women and children, there is plenty of occupation for them

also, according to their age and strength," added Father Châtelain.

"Yet, spite of all this," observed Claudine, joining in the

conversation, "the road gets on but very slowly."

"Which only goes to prove, my good girl, that in this part of the

country there is happily no scarcity of employment for the honest and

industrious labourer."

"But now, as in the case of a poor, helpless, afflicted creature such as

I am," said the Schoolmaster, hastily, "would not the worthy owner of

the farm grant me a humble corner in it for charity's sake--a shelter

and a morsel of bread for the little while I have to remain a burden to

any one in this troublesome world? Oh, my worthy sir, could I but obtain

such a boon I would pass the remainder of my days in praying for a

blessing on my benefactor."

And these words were really pronounced in entire sincerity of meaning;

not that compunction for his many crimes touched the brigand's stony

heart, but he contrasted the happy peacefulness of the lives of these

labourers to his own wretched, stormy existence; and still further did

he envy them when he reflected upon all that the Chouette might have in

store for him; he shuddered as he reflected upon the future she would

provide for him, and more than ever regretted, by having recalled his

old accomplice, having for ever lost the means of dwelling with good and

honest persons, such as those with whom the Chourineur had placed him.

Father Châtelain surveyed the Schoolmaster with an air of surprise.

"My good man," said he, "I did not know you were so utterly destitute."

"Alas! yes, it is even so. I lost my sight by an accident while working

at my trade. I am going to Louvres to endeavour to find a distant

relation there, who, I hope, may be willing to assist me. But, you are

aware, people are not always so open-hearted as they should be; they do

not like distressed objects, such as myself, coming to claim kindred,

and are frequently harsh and unkind," answered the Schoolmaster, sighing

deeply.

"But the most selfish heart would grieve at your distress," replied the

old labourer. "The most hard-hearted relative would pity a man like

you--a good and honest workman overtaken by a sudden calamity, and left

without hope or help. Then the moving spectacle of this young and tender

child, your only friend and guide, would wring pity from the very

stones. But how is it that the master for whom you worked previously to

your accident has done nothing for you?"

"He is now dead," said the Schoolmaster, after a short hesitation; "and

he was my only friend on earth."

"But then there is the hospital for the blind."

"I am not the right age to qualify me for admission."

"Poor man! yours is, indeed, a hard case."

"Do you think it likely that, in the event of my relation at Louvres

refusing to assist me, your master, whom I already respect without

knowing, would take pity on me?"

"Unfortunately, you see, the farm is not a hospital. Our general rule is

to grant all infirm or afflicted travellers a temporary shelter of a

night or a day in the house. Then some assistance is furnished, and they

are put on their road with a prayer to kind Providence to take them

under its charge."

"Then you think there is no hope of interesting your master in my

unhappy fate?" asked the brigand, with a sigh of regret.

"I tell you what is the general custom here, my good man; but so

compassionate a person as our master might go any lengths to serve you."

"Do you really think so?" said the Schoolmaster. "Oh, if he would but

permit me to remain here, I could live in any retired corner, and be

happy and grateful for such a mere trifle of subsistence!"

"As I said before, our master is capable of the most generous actions.

But, were he to consent to your remaining at the farm, there would be no

occasion for you to hide yourself; you would fare in every respect as

you have seen us treated to-day. Some occupation would be found for your

son suitable to his age and strength. He would not want for good

instruction or wise counsels; our venerable minister would teach him

with the other children of the village, and, in the words of Scripture,

he would grow in goodness and in stature beneath the pious care of our

excellent curé. But the best way for you to manage this will be to lay

every particular of your case and petition before our 'Lady of Ready

Help,' when she comes into the kitchen, as she is sure to do before you

start on your journey to-morrow morning."

"What name did you call your lady by?"

"Nay, I meant our mistress, who always goes by that appellation amongst

us. If she interests herself for you, your suit will be granted; for, in

matters of charity, our master never opposes her smallest wish."

"Oh, then," exclaimed the Schoolmaster, in a joyous tone, already

exulting in his hoped-for deliverance from the power of the Chouette, "I

will thankfully follow your advice, and speak to her whenever I have the

blessed opportunity!"

This hope found no echo in the mind of Tortillard, who felt not the

slightest disposition to avail himself of the offers of the old

labourer, and grow up in goodness under the auspices of the venerable

curé. The inclinations of Bras Rouge's son were anything but rural,

neither did his turn of mind incline to the pastoral. Faithful to the

code of morality professed by the Chouette, and promulgated by her, he

would have been severely distressed to see the Schoolmaster emancipate

himself from their united tyranny; and he now thought it high time to

recall the brigand from the illusory visions of flowery meads and all

the _et coeteras_ of a country life, in which his fancy seemed

revelling, to the realities of his present position.

"Yes, oh, yes," repeated the Schoolmaster; "I will assuredly address my

prayers to your 'Lady of Ready Help.' She will pity me and kindly--"

Tortillard here interrupted him by a vigorous and artfully managed kick,

so well directed, that, as before, it took the direst effect on the most

sensitive spot. The intense agony for a time quite bereft the brigand of

speech or breath; but remembering the fatal consequences of giving way

to the feelings which boiled within him, he struggled for self-command,

and, after a pause of a few minutes, added, in a faint and suffering

voice, "Yes, I venture to hope your good mistress would pity and

befriend me."

"Dear father," said Tortillard, in a hypocritical tone, "you forget my

poor dear aunt, Madame la Chouette, who is so fond of you. Poor Aunty

Chouette, she would never part with you so easily, I know. Directly she

heard of your staying here, she would come along with M. Barbillon and

fetch you away--that she would, I know."

"Madame la Chouette and M. Barbillon. Why this honest man seems to have

relations among all the 'birds of the air and fishes of the sea,'"

uttered Jean René in a voice of mirthful irony, giving his neighbour

rather a vigorous poke with his elbow. "Funny, isn't it, Claudine?"

"Oh, you great unfeeling calf! How can you make a joke on these poor

creatures?" replied the tender-hearted dairy-maid, returning Jean René's

thrust with sufficient interest to compromise the safety of his ribs.

"Is Madame la Chouette a relation of yours?" inquired the old labourer

of the Schoolmaster.

"Yes, a distant one," answered the other, with a dull, dejected manner.

"And is she the person you were going to Louvres to try and find?" asked

Father Châtelain.

"She is," replied the blind man; "but I think my son overrates her zeal

on my account. However, under any circumstances, I shall speak to your

excellent lady to-morrow, and entreat her aid to further my request with

the kind, charitable owner of this farm, but," added he, purposely to

divert the conversation into another channel, and so put an end to the

imprudent remarks of Tortillard, "talking of farms, you promised to

explain to me the difference that exists in the management of this farm

and farms in general."

"I did so," replied Father Châtelain, "and I will keep my word. Now,

after having planned all I told you about the charity of labour, our

master said to himself, 'There are many institutions where plans are

devised, and rewards assigned, for improvements in the breed of horses,

cattle, sheep, and other animals for the best constructed ploughs, and

other agricultural implements. And I cannot help thinking that all this

time we are not going to the fountain-head, and beginning, as we ought

to begin, by improving the condition of the labouring classes

themselves, before we give all this heed to the beast which perisheth.

Good beasts are capital things, but good men are better, and more

difficult to meet with. Give your horses and cattle plenty of good food,

clear running water; place them either out-of-doors in a fine, healthy

atmosphere, or give them a clean, well-managed stable, with good and

regular attendance, and they will thrive to your heart's content, and be

capable of reaching any degree of excellence. But with men, look you, it

is quite another thing. You cannot elevate a man's mind as you can

fatten an ox. The animal fattens on his pasture because its taste

gratifies his palate; he eats because he likes what he feeds on, and his

body profits and thrives in proportion to the pleasure with which he has

devoured his food. Well, then, my opinion is, that to make good advice

really profitable to men, they should be enabled clearly to perceive

their own personal advantage in following it.'"

"Just as the ox is profited by eating the fine grass that grows around

him, Father Châtelain?" said several voices.

"Precisely the same."

"But, Father Châtelain," exclaimed another voice. "I have heard talk of

a sort of farm where young thieves, who might in other respects have

conducted themselves very well, are taken in, taught all sorts of

farming knowledge, and fed and treated like princes."

"You have heard quite right, my good fellow, there is such an

institution, and, as far as it goes, is founded on pure and just

motives, and is calculated to do much good. We should never despair for

the wicked, but we should also hope all things for the good. Suppose now

a strong, healthy, and industrious young man, of excellent character,

ready and willing to work, but desirous of receiving good instruction in

his way of life, were to present himself at the place you are speaking

of--this farm of reclaimed thieves--well, the first question would be,

'Well, my chap, are you a rogue and a vagabond?' 'No!' 'Oh, then we

can't receive you here--we've no room for honest lads.'"

"What you say, father, is right, every word of it," rejoined Jean René.

"Rascals are provided for, while honest men want; and beasts are

considered, and their condition continually improved, while men are

passed over and left in ignorance and neglect."

"It was purposely to remedy what you complain of, my brave lad, that our

master took this farm (as I was mentioning to our blind visitor). 'I

know very well,' said he, 'that honest men will be rewarded on high, but

then, you see, it is far and long to look forward to, and there are many

(and much to be pitied are they) who can neither look to such a

distance, nor wait with patience the indefinite period which bids them

live on hope alone. Then how are these poor, depressed, and toil-worn

creatures to find leisure thus to seek religious comfort? Rising at the

first dawn of day, they toil and labour with weary limbs, till night

releases them and sends them to their wretched hovels. Sunday is spent

by them at the public-house, drinking to drive away the recollections

both of their past and future wretchedness. Neither can these poor

beings turn their very hardships to a good account by extracting a

useful moral from them. After a hard day's work does their bread seem

less coarse and black, their pallet less hard, their infants less sickly

and meagre, their wives less worn down by giving nourishment to the

feeble babes of their breast? No, no, far from it. Alas, the thin,

half-starved mother is but ill calculated to nourish another, when she

is obliged to yield her slender share of the family meal to still the

clamours of her famishing children. Yet all this might be endured, aye,

even cheerfully, for use has familiarised them with hardships and

privations; their bread is food, though coarse and homely, their straw

bed rests their weary limbs, and their children, though stunted and

sickly, live on. All these, I say, could be borne, did no comparison

arise between their own poverty and the condition of others; but, when

they visit the town or city on market-days, they see an abundance of

good white loaves crowding the windows of the bakers' shops; warm, soft

mattresses and blankets are displayed for sale to such as have the means

of purchasing; children fresh and blooming as the flowers of May are

playing joyously about, and even from the superabundance of their meals

casting a portion to the dogs and other pet animals. Ah! human courage

gives way at this reverse in the picture of human condition; and when

the tired, care-worn men return to their mud hovels, their black bread

and straw pallet, and are surrounded by a number of squalid,

half-starved, wailing infants, to whom they would gladly have brought

the share of cakes and buns thrown by the pampered children of great

towns in the streets, or cast to the animals, then bitter discontent and

repining take possession of their mind, and, utterly forgetting that on

high is One who careth for all, they say, "Why is this difference

allowed? and, if there must be both rich and poor in the world, why were

not we born to riches? why should not every man have his turn in worldly

prosperity? We are not justly used or fairly treated in being always

poor and hard worked." Of course, all this is both sinful and

unreasonable; neither does it in any manner serve to lighten their load;

and yet they must go on, bending, staggering under the burden too heavy

for them to bear, till they sink, utterly exhausted and worn out. They

must toil, toil on, without hope, without relaxing their daily efforts,

or without once daring to entertain the idea that, by a long continuance

in honest, virtuous, industrious conduct, the day might come when, like

the great Creator of all, they might rest from their labours, and behold

peaceful ease succeeding the hard-griping hand of poverty. Think of a

whole life passed thus, in one continued struggle for the bare means of

life, without a glimmer of hope to cheer the thorny path. What must such

a life be like? Why, it would resemble one long rainy day, without a

single ray of brightness from the blessed sun to help us through it.

Then labour is resumed with an unwilling and dissatisfied spirit. "What

does it signify to us," cry the worn-out labourers, "whether the harvest

yields ill or well? Whether the ears of corn be heavy or light makes no

difference to us. Why should we overwork ourselves, or trouble our heads

with matters that only concern our master? It is sufficient for us to

act with strict honesty. We will not commit any crime, because there are

laws ready to punish such as do; but neither will we try to perform acts

of goodness, because for those the laws provide no recompense." Such a

mode of arguing, my boys, is as unwise as it is wrong and sinful, but,

depend upon it, it is true to nature. From this indifference comes

idleness, and from idleness to crime the distance is very short. Now,

unfortunately, among the class I have been describing, the far greater

proportion consists of those whose conduct may be considered as neither

good nor bad, that is to say, without any particular leaning either way,

and, consequently, a mere trifle might firmly enlist them in the service

of virtue or vice. These are the very individuals,' continued our

master, 'we ought to try and improve, just as we should have done had

they been born to the honour of figuring as animals with hoofs, horns,

or woolly coats. Let us continue to point out to them how completely it

is to their interest to be active, industrious, steady, and well

qualified to discharge their several duties; let us effectually convince

them that, by becoming better men, they will also be much happier; let

them see how closely their good behaviour and prosperity are

interwoven, and, that good advice may sink the deeper into their hearts,

give them, as it were, such a taste of earthly comfort as shall, in a

slight degree, communicate to them the hope and notion of expecting the

unspeakable reward prepared by the Great Giver of all, whose dwelling is

on high.'

"Having well arranged his plans, our master caused it to be made known

in the environs that he wished to engage twelve farm servants, six men

and six females; but that his choice would be entirely regulated by the

most satisfactory certificates of good conduct obtained from the civil

and religious authorities in their native place. They were to be paid

like princes, fed upon the best food to their hearts' content; and

further, a tenth part of the produce of the harvest was to be shared

among the labourers. The engagement at the farm was to last but two

years, at the end of which time they were to give place to other

labourers, chosen upon the same terms; but, at the expiration of five

years, the original labourers were taken on again, in the event of there

being any vacancies; so that, since the establishment of this farm, it

is usual for the labourers and working classes in the neighbourhood to

say, 'Let us be active, honest, and industrious, so as to obtain a high

character for such good qualities, and, perhaps, one day we may be

fortunate to get engaged at Bouqueval Farm. There, for a couple of

years, we shall lead a life of perfect happiness. We shall learn our

business thoroughly; we shall save a little money, so that, when our

time is up, every one will be glad to engage us, because they know that

we must have had first-rate characters to have been admitted on the

establishment at all.'"

"I am already bespoke by M. Dubreuil for his farm at Arnouville," said

Jean René.

"And I am engaged to a first-rate service at Gonesse," chimed in another

labourer.

"You see, my good friend, by this plan everybody is a gainer, the

neighbouring farmers particularly. There are but twelve places for

servants on the farm, but there are, perhaps, fifty candidates who have

all earned their right to solicit an engagement by certificates and

testimonials of excellent conduct. Well, though thirty-eight out of the

fifty must be disappointed, yet the good which is in them will still

remain; and there are so many good and deserving characters in the

environs we can safely reckon upon; for, though they have failed in this

application, they still live in hopes of succeeding another time. Why,

for every prize animal to which the medal is assigned, whether for

swiftness, strength, or beauty, there must be a hundred or more trained

to stand forward and dispute the choice; and those animals rejected do

not lose any of those qualifications because they were not accepted; far

from it; their value is acknowledged, and they quickly find persons

desirous of possessing them. Now, friend," said Father Châtelain, having

fairly talked himself out of breath, "do you not confess that I was

right when I said ours was no common farm, any more than our employer

was no ordinary master?"

"Indeed," said the Schoolmaster, "your account is most interesting, and

fully bears out all you asserted. But, the more I hear of the exalted

views and noble generosity of your master, the more earnestly do I pray

he may be induced to look with pity on my wretched condition. To such a

man, so filled with a desire to improve the condition of God's

creatures, a charitable action more or less would make but little

difference. Oh, tell me beforehand his name, and that of your kind Lady

of the Ready Help, that I may already bless and thank them; for full

certain am I, minds so bent upon good deeds will never turn a deaf ear

to my petition."

"Now I dare say you expect to be told the high-sounding titles of some

great, grand personages. But, bless you! no such thing; no more parade

about their names than those of the saints themselves. 'Our Lady of

Help' is called Madame Georges, and our good master plain M. Rodolph."

"Merciful powers! My wife! my judge! my executioner!" faintly exclaimed

the robber, struck almost speechless at this unexpected revelation.

"Rodolph!--Madame Georges!"

It was wholly impossible for the Schoolmaster to entertain a doubt

respecting the identity of the persons to whom those names belonged.

Previously to adjudging him his fearful punishment, Rodolph had spoken

of the lively interest he took in all that concerned Madame Georges. The

recent visit of the negro David to this farm was another conclusive

proof of there being no mistake in the matter. It seemed as though the

very hand of Providence had brought about this singular rencontre,

overthrowing as it so completely did his recently cherished hopes of

emancipation from his present misery, through the intervention of the

generosity of the proprietor of this farm. To fly was his first impulse.

The very name of Rodolph inspired him with the most intense terror.

Possibly he was even now in the house. Scarcely recovered from his first

alarm, the brigand rose from the table, and, grasping the hand of

Tortillard, exclaimed, in a wild and terrified manner:

"Let us be gone!--quick!--lead me hence. Let us go, I say."

The whole of the servants looked on with astonishment.

"Go!" said Father Châtelain, with much surprise. "Why? Wherefore should

you go? What are you thinking about, my friend? Come, what fresh whim is

this? Are you quite in your right senses?"

Tortillard cleverly availed himself of this last suggestion, and,

uttering a deep sigh, touched his forehead significantly with his

forefinger, so as to convey to the minds of the wondering labourers the

impression that his pretended parent was not quite right in his head.

The signal elicited a corresponding gesture of pity and due

comprehension.

"Come, I say, come!" persisted the Schoolmaster, endeavouring to draw

the boy along with him; but, fully determined not to quit such

comfortable quarters to wander about in the fields all night during the

frost and snow, Tortillard began in a whimpering voice to say:

"Oh, dear! oh, dear! poor father has got one of his old fits come on

again. There, there, father, sit down and keep yourself quiet. Pray do,

and don't think of wandering out in the cold--it would kill you, maybe.

No, not if you are ever so angry with me, will I be so wicked as to lead

you out in such weather." Then, addressing himself to the labourers, he

said, "Will none of you good gentlemen help me to keep my poor dear

father from risking his life by going out to-night?"

"Yes, yes, my boy," answered Father Châtelain; "make yourself perfectly

easy. We will not allow your father to quit the place. He shall stay

here to-night, in spite of himself."

"Surely you will not keep me here against my will?" inquired the

wretched Schoolmaster, in hurried accents; "and perhaps, too, I should

offend your master by my presence--that Monsieur Rodolph. You told me

the farm was not an hospital; once more, therefore, I ask you to let me

go forth in peace on my way."

"Offend our master!--that you would not, I am quite sure. But make

yourself easy on that score. I am sorry to say that he does not live

here, neither do we see him half as frequently as we could wish. But, if

even he had been here, your presence would have made no sort of

difference to him."

"No, no," persisted the blind man with continued alarm; "I have changed

my mind about applying to him. My son is right. No doubt my relation at

Louvres will take care of me. I will go there at once."

"All I have got to say," replied Father Châtelain, kindly conceiving

that he was speaking to a man whose brain was unhappily affected, "is

just this--that to attempt to proceed on your journey with this poor

child to-night is wholly out of the question. Come, let me put matters

to rights for you, and say no more about it."

Although now being reassured of Rodolph's not being at Bouqueval, the

terrors of the Schoolmaster were by no means dissipated; and, spite of

his frightfully disfigured countenance, he was in momentary dread of

being recognized by his wife, who might at any moment enter the kitchen,

when he was perfectly persuaded she would instantly denounce and give

him into custody; his firm impression having been, from the hour of

receiving his horrible punishment from the hands of Rodolph, that it was

done to satisfy the hatred and vengeance of Madame Georges. But, unable

to quit the farm, the ruffian found himself wholly at the mercy of

Tortillard. Resigning himself, therefore, to what was unavoidable, yet

anxious to escape from the eyes of his wife, he said to the venerable

labourer:

"Since you kindly assure me my being here will in no way displease

either your master or mistress, I will gladly accept your hospitality;

but, as I am much fatigued, and must set out again at break of day, I

would humbly ask permission to go at once to my bed."

"Oh, yes, to-morrow morning by all means, and as soon as you like; we

are very early people here. And, for fear even that you should again

wander from the right road, some one shall conduct you part of the way."

"If you have no objection," said Jean René, addressing Father Châtelain,

"I will see the poor man a good step on the road; because Madame Georges

said yesterday I was to take the chaise and go to the lawyer's at

Villiers le Bel to fetch a large sum of money she requires of him."

"Go with the poor blind traveller by all means," replied Father

Châtelain; "but you must walk, mind. Madame has changed her mind about

sending to Villiers del Bel, and, wisely reflecting that it was not

worth while to have so large a sum of money lying useless at the farm,

has determined to let it remain with the lawyer till Monday next, which

will be the day she requires it."

"Of course, Father Châtelain; mistress knows best. But please to tell me

why she should consider it unsafe to have money at the farm. What is she

afraid of?"

"Of nothing, my lad. Thank God, there is no occasion for fear. But, for

all that, I would much rather have five hundred sacks of corn on the

premises than ten bags of crowns. Come," said old Châtelain, addressing

himself to the brigand and Tortillard, "come, follow me, friend; and you

too, my lad." Then, taking up a small lamp, he conducted his two guests

to a chamber on the ground floor, first traversing a large passage into

which several doors opened. Placing the light on a table, the old

labourer said to the Schoolmaster, "Here is your lodging, and may God

grant you a good and peaceful night's repose, my good friend. As for

you, my little man, you are sure to sleep sound and well; it belongs to

your happy age to do so."

The Schoolmaster, pensive and meditative, sat down by the side of the

bed to which Tortillard conducted him. At the instant when Father

Châtelain was quitting the room, Tortillard made him a sign indicative

of his desire to speak with him alone, and hastily rejoined him in the

passage.

"What is it, my boy, you have to say to me?" inquired the old man,

kindly.

"Ah, my kind sir, I only wanted to say that my father is frequently

seized during the night with most violent convulsion-fits, which require

a much stronger person than I am to hold him; should I be obliged to

call for help, is there any person near who could hear me?"

"Poor child!" said the labourer, sympathisingly; "make yourself easy.

There,--do you see that door beside the staircase?"

"Oh, yes, good, kind gentleman; I see it."

"Well, one of the farm labourers sleeps in that room. You will only just

have to run to him. He never locks his door; and he will come to your

father in an instant."

"Thank you, sir; God bless you! I will remember all your kindness when I

say my prayers. But suppose, sir, the man and myself were not strong

enough together to manage my poor father when these violent convulsions

come on, could you, who look so good, and speak so kind--could you be

kind enough to come and tell us what to do?"

"Me, my boy? Oh, I sleep, as well as all the other men servants, out of

the house, in a large outbuilding in the courtyard. But make yourself

quite comfortable. Jean René could manage a mad bull, he is so powerful.

Besides, if you really wished any further help he would go and call up

our old cook; she sleeps on the first floor, even with our mistress and

young mademoiselle, and I can promise you that our old woman is a most

excellent sick-nurse should your father require any one to attend to him

when the fit is over."

"Thank you, kind gentleman, a thousand times. Good-night, sir. I will go

now and pray of God to bless you for your kindness and pity to the poor

blind."

"Good night, my lad! Let us hope both you and your father will enjoy a

sound night's rest, and have no occasion to require any person's help.

You had better return to your room now; your poor father may be wanting

you."

"I will, sir. Good night, and thank you!"

"God preserve you both, my child!" And the old man returned to the

kitchen.

Scarcely had he turned his back than the limping rascal made one of

those supremely insulting and derisive gestures familiar to all the

blackguards of Paris, consisting in slapping the nape of the neck

repeatedly with the left hand, darting the right hand quite open

continually out in a straight line. With the most consummate audacity,

this dangerous child had just gleaned, under the mask of guileless

tenderness and apprehension for his father, information most important

for the furtherance of the schemes of the Chouette and Schoolmaster. He

had ascertained during the last few minutes that the part of the

building where he slept was only occupied by Madame Georges,

Fleur-de-Marie, an old female servant, and one of the farm-labourers.

Upon his return to the room he was to share with the blind man,

Tortillard carefully avoided approaching him. The former, however, heard

his step, and growled out:

"Where have you been, you vagabond?"

"What! you want to know, do you, old blind 'un?"

"Oh, I'll make you pay for all you have made me suffer this evening, you

wretched urchin!" exclaimed the Schoolmaster, rising furiously, and

groping about in every direction after Tortillard, feeling by the walls

as a guide. "I'll strangle you when I catch you, you young fiend--you

infernal viper!"

"Poor, dear father! How prettily he plays at blind-man's buff with his

own little boy," said Tortillard, grinning, and enjoying the ease with

which he escaped from the impotent attempts of the Schoolmaster to seize

him, who, though impelled to the exertion by his overboiling rage, was

soon compelled to cease, and, as had been the case before, to give up

all hopes of inflicting the revenge he yearned to bestow on the impish

son of Bras Rouge.

Thus compelled to submit to the impudent persecution of his juvenile

tormentor, and await the propitious hour when all his injuries could

safely be avenged, the brigand determined to reserve his powerless wrath

for a fitting opportunity of paying off old scores, and, worn out in

body by his futile violence, threw himself, swearing and cursing, on the

bed.

"Dear father!--sweet father!--have you got the toothache that you swear

so? Ah, if Monsieur le Curé heard you, what would he say to you? He

would give you such penance! Oh, my!"

"That's right!--go on!" replied the ruffian, in a hollow and suppressed

voice, after long enduring this entertaining vivacity on the part of the

young gentleman. "Laugh at me!--mock me!--make sport of my calamity,

cowardly scoundrel that you are! That is a fine, noble action, is it

not? Just worthy of such a mean, ignoble, contemptible soul as dwells

within that wretched, crooked body!"

"Oh, how fine we talk! How nice we preach about being generous, and all

that, don't we?" cried Tortillard, bursting into peals of laughter. "I

beg your pardon, dear father, but I can't possibly help thinking it so

funny to hear you, whose fingers were regular fish-hooks, picking and

stealing whatever came in their way; and, as for generosity, I beg you

don't mention it, because, till you got your eyes poked out I don't

suppose you ever thought of such a word!"

"But, at least, I never did you any harm. Why, then, torment me thus?"

"Because, in the first place, you said what I did not like to the

Chouette; then you had a fancy for stopping and playing the fool among

the clodhoppers here. Perhaps you mean to commence a course of asses'

milk?"

"You impudent young beggar! If I had only had the opportunity of

remaining at this farm--which I now wish sunk in the bottomless pit, or

blasted with eternal lightning--you should not have played your tricks

of devilish cruelty with me any longer!"

"You to remain here! that would be a farce! Who, then, would Madame la

Chouette have for her _bête de souffrance_? Me, perhaps, thank

ye!--don't you wish you may get it?"

"Miserable abortion!"

"Abortion! ah, yes, another reason why I say, as well as Aunt Chouette,

there is nothing so funny as to see you in one of your unaccountable

passions--you, who could kill me with one blow of your fist; it's more

funny than if you were a poor, weak creature. How very funny you were at

supper to-night! _Dieu de Dieu!_ what a lark I had all to myself! Why,

it was better than a play at the Gaîté. At every kick I gave you on the

sly, your passion made all the blood fly in your face, and your white

eyes became red all round; they only wanted a bit of blue in the middle

to have been real tri-coloured. They would have made two fine cockades

for the town-sergeant, wouldn't they?"

"Come, come, you like to laugh--you are merry: bah! it's natural at your

age--it's natural--I'm not angry with you," said the Schoolmaster, in an

air of affected carelessness, hoping to propitiate Tortillard; "but,

instead of standing there, saying saucy things, it would be much better

for you to remember what the Chouette told you; you say you are very

fond of her. You should examine all over the place, and get the print of

the locks. Didn't you hear them say they expected to have a large sum of

money here on Monday? We will be amongst them then, and have our share.

I should have been foolish to have stayed here; I should have had enough

of these asses of country people at the end of a week, shouldn't I,

boy?" asked the ruffian, to flatter Tortillard.

"If you had stayed here I should have been very much annoyed, 'pon my

word and honour," replied Bras Rouge's son, in a mocking tone.

"Yes, yes, there's a good business to be done in this house; and, if

there should be nothing to steal, yet I will return here with the

Chouette, if only to have my revenge," said the miscreant, in a tone

full of fury and malice, "for now I am sure it is my wife who excited

that infernal Rodolph against me; he who, in blinding me, has put me at

the mercy of all the world, of the Chouette, and a young blackguard like

yourself. Well, if I cannot avenge myself on him, I will have vengeance

against my wife,--yes, she shall pay me for all, even if I set fire to

this accursed house and bury myself in its smouldering ruins. Yes, I

will--I will have--"

"You will, you want to get hold of your wife, eh, old gentleman? She is

within ten paces of you! that's vexing, ain't it? If I liked, I could

lead you to the door of her room, that's what I could, for I know the

room. I know it--I know it--I know it," added Tortillard, singing

according to his custom.

"You know her room?" said the Schoolmaster, in an agony of fervent joy;

"you know it?"

"I see you coming," said Tortillard; "come, play the pretty, and get on

your hind legs like a dog when they throw him a dainty bone. Now, old

Cupid!"

"You know my wife's chamber?" said the miscreant, turning to the side

whence the sound of Tortillard's voice proceeded.

"Yes, I know it; and, what's still better, only one of the farm servants

sleeps on the side of the house where we are. I know his door--the key

is in it--click, one turn, and he's all safe and fast. Come, get up, old

blind Cupid!"

"Who told you all this?" asked the blind scoundrel, rising

involuntarily.

"Capital, Cupid! By the side of your wife's room sleeps an old cook--one

more turn of the key, and click! we are masters of the house--masters of

your wife, and the young girl with the gray mantle that you must catch

hold of and carry off. Now, then, your paw, old Cupid; do the pretty to

your master directly."

"You lie! you lie! how could you know all this?"

"Why, I'm lame in my leg, but not in my head. Before we left the kitchen

I said to the old guzzling labourer that sometimes in the night you had

convulsions, and I asked him where I could get assistance if you were

attacked. He said if you were attacked I might call up the man servant

and the cook; and he showed me where they slept; one down, the other up

stairs in the first floor, close to your wife--your wife--your wife!"

And Tortillard repeated his monotonous song. After a lengthened silence

the Schoolmaster said to him, in a calm voice, but with an air of

desperate determination:

"Listen, boy. I have stayed long enough. Lately--yes, yes, I confess

it--I had a hope which now makes my lot appear still more frightful; the

prison, the _bagne_, the guillotine, are nothing--nothing to what I have

endured since this morning; and I shall have the same to endure always.

Lead me to my wife's room; I have my knife here; I will kill her. I

shall be killed afterwards; but what of that? My hatred swells till it

chokes me; I shall have revenge, and that will console me. What I now

suffer is too much--too much! for me, too, before whom everybody

trembled. Now, lad, if you knew what I endure, even you would pity me.

Even now my brain appears ready to burst; my pulse beats as if my veins

would burst; my head whirls--"

"A cold in your 'knowledge-box,' old chap--that's it; sneeze--that'll

cure you," said Tortillard, with a loud grin; "what say you to a pinch

of snuff, old brick?"

And striking loudly on the back of his left hand, which was clenched, as

if he were tapping on the lid of a snuff-box, he sang:

"J'ai du bon tabac dans ma tabatière;

J'ai du bon tabac, tu n'en auras pas."

"_Oh, mon Dieu! mon Dieu!_ they will drive me mad!" cried the brigand,

becoming really almost demented by a sort of nervous excitement arising

from bloodthirsty revenge and implacable hatred, which in vain sought to

satiate itself. The exuberant strength of this monster could only be

equalled by the impossibility of satisfying his deadly desires. Let us

imagine a hungry, furious, maddened wolf, teased during a whole day by a

child through the bars of his den, and scenting within two paces of him

a victim who would at once satisfy his hunger and his rage. At the last

taunt of Tortillard the brigand almost lost his senses; unable to reach

his victim, he desired in his frenzy to shed his own blood, for his

blood was stifling him. One moment he resolved to kill himself, and, had

he had a loaded pistol in his hand, he would not have hesitated; he

fumbled in his pocket, and drew out a clasp-knife, opened it, and raised

it to strike; but, quick as were his movements, reflection, fear, and

vital instinct were still more rapid,--the murderer lacked courage,--his

arm fell on his knees. Tortillard had watched all his actions with an

attentive eye, and, when he saw the finale of this pseudo-tragedy, he

continued, mockingly,--

"How, boys, a duel? Ah, pluck the chickens!"

The Schoolmaster, fearing that he should lose his senses if he gave way

to an ineffectual burst of fury, turned a deaf ear to this fresh insult

of Tortillard, who so impertinently commented on the cowardice of an

assassin who recoiled from suicide. Despairing of escape from what he

termed, by a sort of avenging fatality, the cruelty of his cursed child,

the ruffian sought to try what could be done by assailing the avarice of

the son of Bras Rouge.

"Ah," said he to him, in a tone almost supplicatory, "lead me to the

door of my wife's room, and take anything you like that's in her room

and run away with it! leave me to myself. You may cry out 'murder' if

you like; they will apprehend me--kill me on the spot--I care not, I

shall die avenged, if I have not the courage to end my existence myself.

Oh, lead me there--lead me there; depend on it she has gold, jewels,

anything, and you may take all, all for yourself, for your own, do you

mind?--your own; only lead me to the door where she is."

"Yes, I mind well enough; you want me to lead you to her door, then to

her bed, and then to tell you when to strike, then to guide your

hand--eh! that's it, ain't it? You want to make me a handle to your

knife, old monster!" replied Tortillard, with an expression of contempt,

anger, and horror, which, for the first time in his life gave an

appearance of seriousness to his weasel face, usually all impertinence

and insolence; "I'll be killed first, I tell you, sooner than I'll lead

you to where your wife is!"

"You refuse?"

The son of Bras Rouge made no reply. He approached with bare feet and

without being heard by the Schoolmaster, who, seated on the bed, still

held his large knife in his hand, and then, in a moment, with marvellous

quickness and dexterity, Tortillard snatched from him his weapon, and

with one jump skipped to the further end of the chamber.

"My knife! my knife!" cried the brigand, extending his arms.

"No; for then you might to-morrow morning ask to speak with your wife

and try to kill her, since, as you say, you have had enough of life, and

are such a coward that you don't dare kill yourself."

"How he defends my wife against me!" said the bandit, whose intellect

became obscure. "This little wretch is a devil! Where am I? Why does he

try to save her?"

"Because I like it," said Tortillard, whose face resumed its usual

appearance of sly impudence.

"Ah, is that it?" murmured the Schoolmaster, whose mind was wandering;

"well, then, I'll fire the house! we'll all burn--all! I prefer that

furnace to the other. The candle! the candle!"

"Ah! ah! ah!" exclaimed Tortillard, bursting out again into loud

laughter. "If your own candle--your 'peepers'--had not been snuffed out,

and for ever, you would have known that ours had been extinguished an

hour ago." And Tortillard sang:

"Ma chandelle est morte,

Je n'ai plus de feu."

The Schoolmaster gave a deep groan, stretched out his arms, and fell

heavily on the floor, his face on the ground, and, struck by a rush of

blood, remained motionless.

"Not to be caught, old boy," said Tortillard; "that's only a trick to

make me come to you that you may serve me out! When you have been long

enough on the floor you'll get up."

Bras Rouge's boy resolved not to go to sleep for fear of being surprised

by the Schoolmaster, so seated himself in a chair, with his eyes fixed

on the ruffian, persuaded that it was a trap laid for him, and not

believing the Schoolmaster in any danger. That he might employ himself

agreeably Tortillard drew silently and carefully from his pocket a

little red silk purse, and counted slowly, and with looks of joy and

avarice, the seventeen pieces of gold which it contained. Tortillard had

acquired his ill-gotten riches thus: It may be remembered that Madame

d'Harville was nearly surprised by her husband at the rendezvous which

she had granted to the commandant. Rodolph, when he had given the purse

to the young lady had told her to go up to the fifth story to the

Morels, under the pretence of bringing them assistance. Madame

d'Harville ran quickly up the staircase holding the purse in her hands.

When Tortillard, who was coming from the quack's, caught a glimpse of

the purse, and, pretending to stumble as he passed the marquise, pushed

against her, and, in the shock, slily stole the purse. Madame

d'Harville, bewildered, and hearing her husband's footsteps, hurried on

to the fifth story without thinking or complaining of the impudent

robbery of the little cripple. After having counted and recounted his

gold Tortillard cast his eyes towards the Schoolmaster who was extended

still on the ground. Disquieted for a moment, he listened, and hearing

the robber breathe freely he thought that he was still meditating some

trick against him.

Chance saved the Schoolmaster from a congestion of the brain which else

must have proved mortal. His fall had caused a salutary and abundant

bleeding at the nose. He then fell into kind of a feverish torpor--half

sleep, half delirium, and then had this wild, this fearful dream!