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hands three times； and； with the precision of soldiers presenting
arms； the women made a rapid sign of the cross； and then the
priest slowly repeated the 'Benedictus' in Latin。 Then we sat
down； and the two fowls appeared； brought in by Marchas； who
chose to wait rather than to sit down as a guest at this
ridiculous repast。
〃But I cried： 'Bring the champagne at once！' and a cork flew out
with the noise of a pistol； and in spite of the resistance of the
priest and the kind Sister； the three hussars sitting by the side
of the three invalids； emptied their three full glasses down
their throats by force。
〃Massouligny； who possessed the faculty of making himself at
home； and of being on good terms with everyone； wherever he was；
made love to Mother Paumelle； in the drollest manner。 The
dropsical woman； who had retained her cheerfulness in spite of
her misfortunes； answered him banteringly in a high falsetto
voice which seemed to be assumed； and she laughed so heartily at
her neighbor's jokes that her large stomach looked as if it were
going to rise up and get on to the table。 Little Herbon had
seriously undertaken the task of making the idiot drunk； and
Baron d'Etreillis whose wits were not always particularly sharp；
was questioning old Jean…Jean about the life； the habits； and the
rules in the hospital。
〃The nun said to Massouligny in consternation： 'Oh！ oh！ you will
make her ill； pray do not make her laugh like that； Monsieur。 Oh！
Monsieur。' Then she got up and rushed at Herbon to take a full
glass out of his hands which he was hastily emptying down La
Putois's throat； while the priest shook with laughter； and said
to the Sister： 'Never mind； just this once； it will not hurt her。
Do leave them alone。'
〃After the two fowls they ate the duck； which was flanked by the
three pigeons and a blackbird； and then the goose appeared；
smoking； golden…colored； and diffusing a warm odor of hot；
browned fat meat。 La Paumelle who was getting lively； clapped her
hands； La Jean…Jean left off answering the Baron's numerous
questions； and La Putois uttered grunts of pleasure； half cries
and half sighs； like little children do when one shows them
sweets。 'Allow me to carve this bird；' the cure said。 'I
understand these sort of operations better than most people。'
〃 'Certainly； Monsieur l'Abbe；' and the Sister said： 'How would
it be to open the window a little； they are too warm； and I am
afraid they will be ill。'
〃I turned to Marchas： 'Open the window for a minute。' He did so；
the cold outer air as it came in made the candles flare； and the
smoke from the goosewhich the cure was scientifically carving；
with a table napkin round his neckwhirl about。 We watched him
doing it； without speaking now； for we were interested in his
attractive handiwork； and also seized with renewed appetite at
the sight of that enormous golden…colored bird； whose limbs fell
one after another into the brown gravy at the bottom of the dish。
At that moment； in the midst of greedy silence which kept us all
attentive； the distant report of a shot came in at the open
window。
〃I started to my feet so quickly that my chair fell down behind
me； and I shouted： 'Mount； all of you！ You； Marchas； will take
two men and go and see what it is。 I shall expect you back here
in five minutes。' And while the three riders went off at full
gallop through the night； I got into the saddle with my three
remaining hussars； in front of the steps of the villa； while the
cure； the Sister； and the three old women showed their frightened
faces at the window。
〃We heard nothing more； except the barking of a dog in the
distance。 The rain had ceased； and it was cold； very cold。 Soon I
heard the gallop of a horse； of a single horse； coming back。 It
was Marchas； and I called out to him： 'Well？'
〃 'It is nothing； Francois has wounded an old peasant who refused
to answer his challenge and who continued to advance in spite of
the order to keep off。 They are bringing him here； and we shall
see what is the matter。'
〃I gave orders for the horses to be put back into the stable； and
I sent my two soldiers to meet the others； and returned to the
house。 Then the cure； Marchas and I took a mattress into the room
to put the wounded man on； the Sister tore up a table napkin in
order to make lint； while the three frightened women remained
huddled up in a corner。
〃Soon I heard the rattle of sabers on the road； and I took a
candle to show a light to the men who were returning。 They soon
appeared； carrying that inert； soft； long； and sinister object
which a human body becomes when life no longer sustains it。
〃They put the wounded man on the mattress that had been prepared
for him； and I saw at the first glance that he was dying。 He had
the death rattle； and was spitting up blood which ran out of the
corners of his mouth； forced out of his lungs by his gasps。 The
man was covered with it！ His cheeks； his beard； his hair； his
neck； and his clothes seemed to have been rubbed； to have been
dipped in a red tub； the blood had congealed on him； and had
become a dull color which was horrible to look at。
〃The old man； wrapped up in a large shepherd's cloak；
occasionally opened his dull； vacant eyes。 They seemed stupid
with astonishment； like the eyes of hunted animals which fall at
the sportsman's feet； half dead before the shot； stupefied with
fear and surprise。
〃The cure exclaimed： 'Ah！ there is old Placide； the shepherd from
Les Marlins。 He is deaf； poor man； and heard nothing。 Ah！ Oh；
God！ they have killed the unhappy man！' The Sister had opened
his blouse and shirt and was looking at a little blue hole in
the middle of his chest； which was not bleeding any more。 'There
is nothing to be done；' she said。
〃The shepherd was gasping terribly and bringing up blood with
every breath。 In his throat to the very depth of his lungs； they
could hear an ominous and continued gurgling。 The cure； standing
in front of him； raised his right hand； made the sign of the
cross； and in a slow and solemn voice pronounced the Latin words
which purify men's souls。 But before they were finished； the old
man was shaken by a rapid shudder； as if something had broken
inside him； he no longer breathed。 He was dead。
〃When I turned round I saw a sight which was even more horrible
than the death struggle of this unfortunate man。 The three old
women were standing up huddled close together； hideous； and
grimacing with fear and horror。 I went up to them； and they began
to utter shrill screams； while La Jean…Jean； whose leg had been
burned and could not longer support her； fell to the ground at
full length。
〃Sister Saint…Benedict left the dead man； ran up to her infirm
old women； and without a word or a look for me wrapped their
shawls round them； gave them their crutches； pushed them to the
door； made them go out； and disappeared with them into the dark
night。
〃I saw that I could not even let a hussar accompany them； for the
mere rattle of a sword would have sent them mad with fear。
〃The cure was still looking at the dead man； but at last he
turned to me and said：
〃 'Oh！ What a horrible thing！' 〃
SIMON'S P