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the stake to which they tied the beast。
The girl stooped to milk her； while he stroked the cow's sharp
spine with a careless hand。 Then they left the milk…pail on the
grass； and went deep into the wood。
Jean saw nothing but the wall of leaves where they had entered；
and he felt himself so troubled that if he had tried to rise he
would certainly have fallen。 He sat motionless； stupefied by
astonishment and suffering； with an agony which was simple but
deep。 He wanted to cry； to run away； to hide himself； never to
see anybody any more。
Soon he saw them issuing from the thicket。 They returned slowly；
holding each other's hands as in the villages do those who are
promised。 It was Luc who carried the pail。
They kissed one another again before they separated； and the girl
went off after having thrown Jean a friendly 〃Good evening〃 and a
smile which was full of meaning。 To…day she no longer thought of
offering him any milk。
The two little soldiers sat side by side； motionless as usual；
silent and calm； their placid faces betraying nothing of all
which troubled their hearts。 The sun fell on them。 Sometimes the
cow lowed； looking at them from afar。
At their usual hour they rose to go back。 Luc cut a switch。 Jean
carried the empty bottle to return it to the wine…seller at
Bezons。 Then they sallied out upon the bridge； and； as they did
every Sunday； stopped several minutes in the middle to watch the
water flowing。
Jean leaned； leaned more and more； over the iron railing； as
though he saw in the current something which attracted him。 Luc
said： 〃Are you trying to drink？〃 Just as he uttered the last word
Jean's head overbalanced his body； his legs described a circle in
the air； and the little blue and red soldier fell in a heap；
struck the water； and disappeared。
Luc； his tongue paralyzed with anguish； tried in vain to shout。
Farther down he saw something stir； then the head of his comrade
rose to the surface of the river and sank immediately。 Farther
still he again perceived a hand； a single hand； which issued from
the stream and then disappear。 That was all。
The bargemen who dragged the river did not find the body that
day。
Luc set out alone for the barracks； going at a run； his soul
filled with despair。 He told of the accident； with tears in his
eyes； and a husky voice； blowing his nose again and again： 〃He
leaned overhehe leaned overso farso far that his head
turned a somersault； andandso he fellhe fell〃
Choked with emotion； he could say no more。 If he had only known！
GHOSTS
Just at the time when the Concordat was in its most flourishing
condition； a young man belonging to a wealthy and highly
respectable middle…class family went to the office of the head of
the police at P； and begged for his help and advice； which
was immediately promised him。
〃My father threatens to disinherit me；〃 the young man began；
〃although I have never offended against the laws of the State； of
morality； or against his paternal authority； merely because I do
not share his blind reverence for the Catholic Church and her
clergy。 On that account he looks upon me； not merely as
Latitudinarian but as a perfect Atheist； and a faithful old
manservant of ours； who is much attached to me； and who
accidentally saw my father's will； told me in confidence that he
had left all his property to the Jesuits。 I think this is highly
suspicious； and I fear that the priests have been maligning me to
my father。 Until less than a year ago； we used to live very
quietly and happily together； but ever since he has had so much
to do with the clergy； our domestic peace and happiness are at an
end。〃
〃What you have told me；〃 replied the official； 〃is as likely as
it is regrettable； but I fail to see how I can interfere in the
matter。 Your father is in full possession of all his mental
faculties； and can dispose of all his property exactly as he
pleases。 I think that your protest is premature； you must wait
until his will can legally take effect； and then you can invoke
the aid of justice。 I am sorry to say that just now I can do
nothing for you。〃
〃I think you will be able to；〃 the young man replied； 〃for I
believe that a very clever piece of deceit is being carried on。〃
〃How？ Please explain yourself more clearly。〃
〃When I remonstrated with him； yesterday evening； he referred to
my dead mother； and at last assured me； in a voice of the deepest
conviction； that she had frequently appeared to him； had
threatened him with all the torments of the damned； if he did not
disinherit his son； who had fallen away from God； and leave all
his property to the Church。 Now I do not believe in ghosts。〃
〃Neither do I；〃 the police director replied； 〃but I cannot well
do anything on such grounds； having nothing but superstitions to
go upon。 You know how the Church rules all our affairs since the
Concordat with Rome； and if I investigate this matter and obtain
no results； I am risking my post。 It would be very different if
you could adduce any proofs for your suspicions。 I do not deny
that I should like to see the clerical party； which will； I fear；
be the ruin of Austria； receive a staggering blow； try；
therefore； to get to the bottom of this business； and then we
will talk it over again。〃
About a month passed； without the young Latitudinarian being
heard of。 Suddenly； he came one evening； in a great state of
excitement； and told the Inspector that he was in a position to
expose the priestly deceit which he had mentioned； if the
authorities would assist him。 The police director asked for
further information。
〃I have obtained a number of important clues；〃 said the young
man。 〃In the first place； my father confessed to me that my
mother did not appear to him in our house； but in the churchyard
where she is buried。 My mother was consumptive for many years；
and a few weeks before her death she went to the village of
S； where she died and was buried。 In addition to this； I
found out from our footman that my father has already left the
house twice； late at night； in company of X； the Jesuit
priest； and that on both occasions he did not return till
morning。 Each time he was remarkably uneasy and low…spirited
after his return； and had three masses said for my dead mother。
He also told me just now that he has to leave home this evening
on business； but； immediately after he told me that； our footman
saw the Jesuit go out of the house。 We may； therefore； assume
that he intends this evening to consult the spirit of my dead
mother again； and this would be an excellent opportunity to solve
the matter； if you do not object to opposing the most powerful
force in the Empire for the sake of such an insignificant
individual as myself。〃
〃Every citizen has an equal right to the protection of the
State；〃 the police director replied； 〃and I think that I have
shown often enough that I am not wanting in courage to perform my
duty； no matter how serious the consequences may be。 But only
very young men act without any prospects of success； because they
are carried away by their feelings。 When you came to me the first
time； I was obliged to refuse your request for assista