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fly…specks； looked as it they were going to fly off； and seemed
to struggle to get away； like the old woman's soul。
Lying motionless； with her eyes open； the old mother seemed to
await the death which was so near； and which yet delayed its
coming； with perfect indifference。 Her short breath whistled in
her throat。 It would stop altogether soon； and there would be one
woman less in the world； one whom nobody would regret。
At nightfall Honore returned； and when he went up to the bed and
saw that his mother was still alive he asked： 〃How is she？〃 just
as he had done formerly； when she had been sick。 Then he sent La
Rapet away； saying to her： 〃To…morrow morning at five o'clock；
without fail。〃 And she replied： 〃To…morrow at five o'clock。〃
She came at daybreak； and found Honore eating his soup； which he
had made himself； before going to work。
〃Well； is your mother dead？〃 asked the nurse。
〃She is rather better； on the contrary；〃 he replied； with a
malignant look out of the corner of his eyes。 Then he went out。
La Rapet was seized with anxiety； and went up to the dying woman；
who was in the same state； lethargic and impassive； her eyes open
and her hands clutching the counterpane。 The nurse perceived that
this might go on thus for two days； four days； eight days； even；
and her avaricious mind was seized with fear。 She was excited to
fury against the cunning fellow who had tricked her； and against
the woman who would not die。
Nevertheless； she began to sew and waited with her eyes fixed on
the wrinkled face of Mother Bontemps。 When Honore returned to
breakfast he seemed quite satisfied； and even in a bantering
humor； for he was carrying in his wheat under very favorable
circumstances。
La Rapet was getting exasperated； every passing minute now seemed
to her so much time and money stolen from her。 She felt a mad
inclination to choke this old ass； this headstrong old fool； this
obstinate old wretchto stop that short； rapid breath； which was
robbing her of her time and money； by squeezing her throat a
little。 But then she reflected on the danger of doing so； and
other thoughts came into her head； so she went up to the bed and
said to her： 〃Have you ever seen the Devil？〃
Mother Bontemps whispered： 〃No。〃
Then the sick…nurse began to talk and to tell her tales likely to
terrify her weak and dying mind。 〃Some minutes before one dies
the Devil appears；〃 she said； 〃to all。 He has a broom in his
hand； a saucepan on his head and he utters loud cries。 When
anybody had seen him； all was over； and that person had only a
few moments longer to live〃； and she enumerated all those to whom
the Devil had appeared that year： Josephine Loisel； Eulalie
Ratier； Sophie Padagnau； Seraphine Grospied。
Mother Bontemps； who was at last most disturbed in mind； moved
about； wrung her hands； and tried to turn her head to look at the
other end of the room。 Suddenly La Rapet disappeared at the foot
of the bed。 She took a sheet out of the cupboard and wrapped
herself up in it； then she put the iron pot on to her head； so
that its three short bent feet rose up like horns； took a broom
in her right hand and a tin pail in her left； which she threw up
suddenly； so that it might fall to the ground noisily。
Certainly when it came down； it made a terrible noise。 Then；
climbing on to a chair； the nurse showed herself； gesticulating
and uttering shrill cries into the pot which covered her face；
while she menaced the old peasant woman； who was nearly dead；
with her broom。
Terrified； with a mad look on her face； the dying woman made a
superhuman effort to get up and escape； she even got her
shoulders and chest out of bed； then she fell back with a deep
sigh。 All was over； and La Rapet calmly put everything back into
its place； the broom into the corner by the cupboard； the sheet
inside it； the pot on to the hearth； the pail on to the floor；
and the chair against the wall。 Then with a professional air； she
closed the dead woman's enormous eyes； put a plate on the bed and
poured some holy water into it； dipped the twig of boxwood into
it； and kneeling down； she fervently repeated the prayers for the
dead； which she knew by heart； as a matter of business。
When Honore returned in the evening； he found her praying。 He
calculated immediately that she had made twenty sous out of him；
for she had only spent three days and one night there； which made
five francs altogether； instead of the six which he owed her。
EPIPHANY
〃Ah！〃 said Captain the Count de Garens； 〃I should rather think
that I do remember that Epiphany supper； during the war！
〃At the time I was quarter…master of cavalry； and for a fort
night； I had been lurking about as a scout in front of the German
advanced guard。 The evening before we had cut down a few Uhlans
and had lost three men； one of whom was that poor little
Raudeville。 You remember Joseph de Raudeville well； of course。
〃Well； on that day my captain ordered me to take six troopers and
occupy the village of Porterin； where there had been five fights
in three weeks； and to hold it all night。 There were not twenty
houses left standing； nay； not a dozen； in that wasp's nest。 So I
took ten troopers； and set out at about four o'clock； at five
o'clock； while it was still pitch dark； we reached the first
houses of Porterin。 I halted and ordered Marchasyou know Pierre
de Marchas； who afterward married little Martel…Auvelin； the
daughter of the Marquis de Martel…Auvelinto go alone into the
village and to report to me what he saw。
〃I had chosen nothing but volunteers； and all of good family。
When on service it is pleasant not to be forced into intimacy
with unpleasant fellows。 This Marchas was as sharp as possible；
as cunning as a fox； and as supple as a serpent。 He could scent
the Prussians as well as a dog can scent a hare； could find
victuals where we should have died of hunger without him； and
could obtain information from everybodyinformation which was
always reliablewith incredible cleverness。
〃In ten minutes he returned。 'All right；' he said； 'there have
been no Prussians here for three days。 It is a sinister place； is
this village。 I have been talking to a Sister of Mercy； who is
attending to four or five wounded men in an abandoned convent。'
〃I ordered them to ride on； and we penetrated into the principal
street。 On the right and left we could vaguely see roofless
walls； hardly visible in the profound darkness。 Here and there a
light was burning in a room； some family had remained to keep its
house standing as long as they were able； a family of brave； or
of poor； people。 The rain began to fall； a fine； icy…cold rain；
which froze us before it wetted us through； by merely touching
our cloaks。 The horses stumbled against stones； against beams；
against furniture。 Marchas guided us； going before us on foot；
and leading his horse by the bridle。
〃 'Where are you taking us to？' I asked him。 And he replied： 'I
have a place for us to lodge in； and a rare good one。' And soon
we stopped before a small house； evidently belonging to some
person of the middle class； completely shut up； built on to the
street with a garden in