\"Oh，madame，\"criedFarrabesche，\"beforelong，whentherainsbegin，youwillhearthetorrentroarevenatthechateau;buteventhatisnothingtowhathappensinspringwhenthesnowsmelt。ThewaterthenrushesdownfromallpartsoftheforestbehindMontegnac，fromthosegreatslopeswhicharebackofthehillsonwhichyouhaveyourpark。
Allthewaterofthesemountainspoursintothisvalleyandmakesadeluge。Luckilyforyou，thetreesholdtheearth;otherwisethelandwouldslideintothevalley。\"
\"Wherearethesprings？\"askedMadameGraslin，givingherfullattentiontowhathesaid。
Farrabeschepointedtoanarrowgorgewhichseemedtoendthevalleyjustbelowhishouse。\"TheyaremostlyonaclayplateaulyingbetweentheLimousinandtheCorreze;theyaremeregreenpoolsduringthesummer，andlosethemselvesinthesoil。Noonelivesinthatunhealthyregion。Thecattlewillnoteatthegrassorreedsthatgrownearthebrackishwater。Thatvasttract，whichhasmorethanthreethousandacresinit，isanopencommonforthreedistricts;but，liketheplainsofMontegnac，nousecanbemadeofit。Thissideonyourproperty，asIshowedyou，thereisalittleearthamongthestones，butoverthereisnothingbutsandyrock。\"
\"Sendyourboyforthehorses;Iwillrideoverandseeitformyself。\"
Benjamindeparted，afterMadameGraslinhadshownhimthedirectioninwhichhewouldfindMauriceandthehorses。
\"Youwhoknow，sotheytellme，everypeculiarityofthecountrythoroughly，\"continuedMadameGraslin，\"explaintomehowitisthatthestreamsofmyforestwhichareonthesideofthemountaintowardMontegnac，andoughtthereforetosendtheirwatersdownthere，donotdoso，neitherinregularwater—coursesnorinsuddentorrentsafterrainsandthemeltingofthesnows。\"
\"Ah，madame，\"saidFarrabesche，\"therector，whothinksallthetimeaboutthewelfareofMontegnac，hasguessedthereason，buthecan’tfindanyproofofit。Sinceyourarrival，hehasmademetracethepathofthewaterfrompointtopointthrougheachravineandvalley。
Iwasreturningyesterday，whenIhadthehonorofmeetingyou，fromthebaseoftheRoche—Vive，whereIcarefullyexaminedthelayoftheland。Hearingthehorses’feet，Icameuptoseewhowasthere。
MonsieurBonnetisnotonlyasaint，madame;heisamanofgreatknowledge。’Farrabesche，’hesaidtome（Iwasthenworkingontheroadthevillagehasjustbuilttothechateau，andtherectorcametomeandpointedtothatchainofhillsfromMontegnactoRoche—Vive），——
’Farrabesche，’hesaid，’theremustbesomereasonwhythatwater—sheddoesnotsendanyofitswatertotheplain;Naturemusthavemadesomesluicewaywhichcarriesitelsewhere。’Well，madame，thatideaissosimpleyouwouldsupposeanychildmighthavethoughtit;yetnoonesinceMontegnacexisted，neitherthegreatlords，northeirbailiffs，northeirforesters，northepoor，northerich，noneofthosewhosawthatplainbarrenforwantofwater，everaskedthemselveswhythestreamswhichnowfeedtheGaboudonotcomethere。
Thethreedistrictsabove，whichhaveconstantlybeenafflictedwithfeversinconsequenceofstagnantwater，neverlookedfortheremedy;
Imyself，wholiveinthewilds，neverdreamedofit;itneededamanofGod。\"
Thetearsfilledhiseyesashesaidtheword。
\"Allthatmenofgeniusdiscover，\"saidMadameGraslin，\"seemssosimplethateveryonethinkstheymighthavediscovereditthemselves。
But，\"sheadded，asiftoherself，\"geniushasthisfinethingaboutit，——itresemblesalltheworld，butnooneresemblesit。\"
\"IunderstoodMonsieurBonnetatonce，\"continuedFarrabesche;\"itdidnottakehimmanywordstotellmewhatIhadtodo。Madame，thisfactItellyouofisallthemoresingularbecausethereare，towardtheplain，greatrentsandfissuresinthemountain，gorgesandravinesdownwhichthewaterflows;but，strangetosay，thesecleftsandravinesandgorgesallsendtheirstreamsintoalittlevalleywhichisseveralfeetbelowthelevelofyourplain。To—dayIhavediscoveredthereasonofthisphenomenon:fromtheRoche—VivetoMontegnac，atthefootofthemountains，runsashelforbarricadeofrock，varyinginheightfromtwentytothirtyfeet;thereisnotabreakinitfromendtoend;anditisformedofaspeciesofrockwhichMonsieurBonnetcallsschist。Thesoilaboveit，whichisofcoursesofterthanrock，hasbeenhollowedoutbytheactionofthewater，whichisturnedatrightanglesbythebarricadeofrock，andthusflowsnaturallyintotheGabou。Thetreesandunderbrushoftheforestconcealthisformationandthehollowingoutofthesoil。Butafterfollowingthecourseofthewater，asIhavedonebythetracesleftofitspassage，itiseasytoconvinceanyoneofthefact。TheGabouthusreceivesthewater—shedofbothmountains，——thatwhichoughttogodownthemountainfaceonwhichyourparkandgardenaretotheplain，andthatwhichcomesdowntherockyslopesbeforeus。
AccordingtoMonsieurBonnetthepresentstateofthingswillcreasewhenthewater—shedtowardtheplaingainsanaturaloutlet，andisdammedtowardtheGaboubytheearthandrockswhichthemountaintorrentsbringdownwiththem。Itwilltakeahundredyearstodothat，however;andbesides，itisn’tdesirable。Ifyoursoilwillnottakeupmorewaterthanthegreatcommonyouarenowgoingtosee，Montegnacwouldbefullofstagnantpools，breedingfeverinthecommunity。\"
\"IsupposethattheplacesMonsieurBonnetshowedmetheotherdaywherethefoliageofthetreesisstillgreenmarkthepresentconduitsbywhichthewaterfallsintotheGabou？\"
\"Yes，madame。BetweenRoche—ViveandMontegnactherearethreedistinctmountainswiththreehollowsbetweenthem，downwhichthewaters，stoppedbytheschistbarrier，turnoffintotheGabou。Thebeltoftreesstillgreenatthefootofthehillabovethebarrier，whichlooks，atadistance，likeapartoftheplain，isreallythewater—sluicetherectorsupposed，veryjustly，thatNaturehadmadeforherself。\"
\"Well，whathasbeentotheinjuryofMontegnacshallsoonbeitsprosperity，\"saidMadameGraslin，inatoneofdeepintention。\"Andinasmuchasyouhavebeenthefirstinstrumentemployedonthework，youshallshareinit;youshallfindmefaithful，industriousworkmen;lackofmoneycanalwaysbemadeupbydevotionandgoodwork。\"
BenjaminandMauricecameupasVeroniqueendedthesewords;shemountedherhorseandsignedtoFarrabeschetomounttheother。
\"Guideme，\"shesaid，\"totheplacewherethewatersspreadoutinpoolsoverthatwasteland。\"
\"Thereisallthemorereasonwhymadameshouldgothere，\"saidFarrabesche，\"becausethelateMonsieurGraslin，undertherector’sadvice，boughtthreehundredacresattheopeningofthatgorge，onwhichthewatershaveleftsedimentenoughtomakegoodsoiloverquiteapieceofground。MadamewillalsoseetheoppositesideoftheRoche—Vive，wheretherearefinewoods，amongwhichMonsieurGraslinwouldnodoubthaveputafarmhadhelived;there’sanexcellentplaceforone，wherethespringwhichrisesjustbymyhouselosesitselfbelow。\"
Farrabescherodefirsttoshowtheway，takingVeroniquethroughapathwhichledtothespotwherethetwoslopesdrewcloselytogetherandthenflewapart，onetotheeasttheothertothewest，asifrepulsedbyashock。Thisnarrowpassage，filledwithlargerocksandcoarse，tallgrasses，wasonlyaboutsixtyfeetinwidth。
TheRoche—Vive，cutperpendicularlyonthissidelookedlikeawallofgraniteinwhichtherewasnofoothold;butabovethisinflexiblewallwasacrownoftrees，therootsofwhichhungdownit，mostlypinesclingingtotherockwiththeirforkedfeetlikebirdsonabough。
Theoppositehill，hollowedbytime，hadafrowningfront，sandy，rocky，andyellow;herewereshallowcaverns，dipswithoutdepth;thesoftandpulverizingrockhadochretones。Afewplantswithpricklyleavesabove，andburdocks，reeds，andaquaticgrowthsbelow，wereindicationenoughofthenorthernexposureandthepovertyofthesoil。Thebedofthetorrentwasofstone，quitehard，butyellow。
Evidentlythetwochains，thoughparallelandrippedasunderbyoneofthegreatcatastropheswhichhavechangedthefaceoftheglobe，were，eitherfromsomeinexplicablecapriceorforsomeunknownreason，thediscoveryofwhichawaitedgenius，composedofelementsthatwerewhollydissimilar。Thecontrastoftheirtwonaturesshowedmoreclearlyherethanelsewhere。
Veroniquenowsawbeforeheranimmensedryplateau，withoutanyvegetation，chalky（thisexplainedtheabsorptionofthewater）andstrewnwithpoolsofstagnantwaterandrockyplacesstrippedofsoil。
TotherightwerethemountainsoftheCorreze;tolefttheRoche—Vivebarredtheviewcoveredwithitsnobletrees;onitsfurtherslopewasameadowofsometwohundredacres，theverdureofwhichcontrastedwiththehideousaspectofthedesolateplateau。
\"MysonandIcutthatditchyouseedowntheremarkedbythetallgrasses，\"saidFarrabesche;\"itjoinstheonewhichboundsyourforest。Onthissidetheestateisboundedbyadesert，forthenearestvillageisthreemilesdistant。\"
Veroniqueturnedrapidlytothedismalplain，followedbyherguide。
Sheleapedherhorseacrosstheditchandrodeatfullgallopacrossthedrearexpanse，seemingtotakeasavagepleasureincontemplatingthatvastimageofdesolation。Farrabeschewasright。Nopower，nowillcouldputtoanyusewhateverthatsoilwhichresoundedunderthehorses’feetasthoughitwerehollow。Thiseffectwasproducedbythenaturalporousnessoftheclay;buttherewerefissuresalsothroughwhichthewaterflowedaway，nodoubttosomedistantsource。
\"Therearemanysoulslikethis，\"thoughtVeronique，stoppingherhorseaftershehadriddenatfullspeedforfifteenortwentyminutes。Sheremainedmotionlessandthoughtfulinthemidstofthisdesert，wheretherewasneitheranimalnorinsectlifeandwherethebirdsneverflew。TheplainofMontegnacwasatleastpebblyorsandy;
onitwereplaceswhereafewinchesofsoildidgiveafootholdfortherootsofcertainplains;butheretheungratefulchalk，neitherstonenorearth，repelledeventheeye，whichwasforcedtoturnforrelieftotheblueoftheether。
Afterexaminingtheboundsofherforestandthemeadowspurchasedbyherhusband，VeroniquereturnedtowardtheoutletoftheGabou，butslowly。ShethensawFarrabeschegazingintoasortofditchwhichlookedlikeoneaspeculatormighthavedugintothisdesolatecorneroftheearthexpectingNaturetogiveupsomehiddentreasure。
\"Whatisthematter？\"askedVeronique，noticingonthatmanlyfaceanexpressionofdeepsadness。
\"Madame，Iowemylifetothatditch;orrather，tospeakmorecorrectly，Iowetoittimeforrepentance，timetoredeemmysinsintheeyesofmen。\"
ThismethodofexplaininglifesoaffectedMadameGraslinthatshestoppedherhorseonthebrinkoftheditch。
\"Iwashidingthere，madame。ThegroundissoresonantthatwhenmyearwasagainstitIcouldhearthehorsesofthegendarmerie，oreventhefootstepsofthesoldiers，whicharealwayspeculiar。ThatgavemetimetoescapeuptheGaboutoaplacewhereIhadahorse，andI
alwaysmanagedtoputseveralmilesbetweenmyselfandmypursuers。
Catherineusedtobringmefoodduringthenight;ifshedidnotfindmeIalwaysfoundthebreadandwineinaholecoveredwitharock。\"
Thisrecollectionofhiswanderingandcriminallife，whichmighthaveinjuredFarrabeschewithsomepersons，metwiththemostindulgentpityfromMadameGraslin。SherodehastilyontowardtheGabou，followedbyherguide。Whileshemeasuredwithhereyethisopening，throughwhichcouldbeseenthelongvalley，sosmilingononeside，soruinedontheother，andatitslowerend，aleagueaway，theterracedhill—sidesbackofMontegnac，Farrabeschesaid:——
\"There’llbeafamousrushofwaterinafewdays。\"
\"Andnextyear，onthisday，notadropshallflowthere。Bothsidesbelongtome，andIwillbuildadamsolidenoughandhighenoughtostopthefreshet。Insteadofavalleyyieldingnothing，Iwillhavealaketwenty，thirty，fortyfeetdeepoveranextentofthreeorfourmiles，——animmensereservoir，whichshallsupplytheflowofirrigationwithwhichIwillfertilizetheplainofMontegnac。\"
\"Ah，madame！therectorwasright，whenhesaidtousaswefinishedourroad，’Youareworkingforamother。’MayGodshedhisblessingonsuchanundertaking。\"
\"Saynothingaboutit，Farrabesche，\"saidMadameGraslin。\"TheideawasMonsieurBonnet’s。\"
Theyreturnedtothecottage，whereVeroniquepickedupMaurice，withwhomsherodehastilybacktothechateau。WhenMadameSauviatandAlinesawhertheywerestruckwiththechangeinhercountenance;thehopeofdoinggoodintheregionshenowownedgaveheralreadyanappearanceofhappiness。ShewroteatoncetoMonsieurGrossetete，begginghimtoaskMonsieurdeGrandvilleforthecompletereleaseofthereturnedconvict，onwhoseconductshegavehimassuranceswhichwereconfirmedbyacertificatefromthemayorofMontegnacandbyaletterfromMonsieurBonnet。TothisrequestsheaddedinformationaboutCatherineCurieux，beggingGrossetetetointerestthe/procureur—general/inthegoodworkshewishedtodo，andpersuadehimtowritetotheprefectureofpoliceinParistorecovertracesofthegirl。ThecircumstanceofCatherine’shavingsentmoneytoFarrabescheatthegalleysoughttobeclewenoughtofurnishinformation。VeroniquewasdeterminedtoknowwhyitwasthattheyoungwomanhadnotreturnedtoherchildandtoFarrabesche，nowthathewasfree。ShealsotoldheroldfriendofherdiscoveryaboutthetorrentoftheGabou，andurgedhimtoselectanableengineer，suchasshehadalreadyaskedhimtoprocureforher。
ThenextdaywasSunday，andforthefirsttimesinceherinstallationatMontegnacVeroniquefeltabletohearmassinchurch;sheaccordinglywentthereandtookpossessionofthebenchthatbelongedtoherinthechapeloftheVirgin。Seeinghowdenudedthepoorchurchwas，sheresolvedtodevoteacertainsumyearlytotheneedsofthebuildingandthedecorationofthealtars。Shelistenedtothesweet，impressive，angelicvoiceoftherector，whosesermon，thoughcouchedinsimplelanguagesuitedtotherusticintellectsbeforehim，wassublimeincharacter。Sublimitycomesfromtheheart，intellecthaslittletodowithit;religionisaquenchlesssourceofthissublimitywhichhasnodross;forCatholicismenteringandchangingallhearts，isitselfallheart。MonsieurBonnettookhistextfromtheepistlefortheday，whichsignifiedthat，soonerorlater，Godaccomplishesallpromises，assistingHisfaithfulones，encouragingtherighteous。Hemadeplaintoeverymindthegreatthingswhichmightbeaccomplishedbywealthjudiciouslyusedforthegoodofothers，——explainingthatthedutiesofthepoortotherichwereaswidelyextendedasthoseoftherichtothepoor，andthattheaidandassistancegivenshouldbemutual。
Farrabeschehadmadeknowntoafewofthosewhotreatedhiminafriendlymanner（theresultoftheChristiancharitywhichMonsieurBonnethadputinpracticeamonghisparishioners）thebenevolentactsMadameGraslinhaddoneforhim。Herconductinthismatterhadbeentalkedoverbyallthelittlegroupsofpersonsassembledroundthechurchdoorbeforetheservice，asisthecustomincountryplaces。
Nothingcouldhavebeenbettercalculatedtowinthefriendshipandgood—willoftheseeminentlysusceptibleminds;sothatwhenVeroniqueleftthechurchafterserviceshefoundnearlyalltheinhabitantsoftheparishformedintwohedgesthroughwhichshewasexpectedtopass。Oneandalltheybowedrespectfullyinprofoundsilence。Shewasdeeplytouchedbythisreception，withoutknowingtheactualcauseofit。SeeingFarrabeschehumblystationedamongthelast，shestoppedandsaidtohim:——
\"Youareagoodhunter;donotforgettosupplymewithgame。\"
AfewdayslaterVeroniquewenttowalkwiththerectorthroughthepartoftheforestthatwasnearestthechateau，wishingtodescendwithhimtheterracedslopesshehadseenfromthehouseofFarrabesche。IndoingthissheobtainedcompletecertaintyastothenatureoftheupperaffluentsoftheGabou。TherectorsawforhimselfthatthestreamswhichwateredcertainpartsofupperMontegnaccamefromthemountainsoftheCorreze。Thischainofhillsjoinedthebarrenslopeswehavealreadydescribed，parallelwiththechainoftheRoche—Vive。
Onreturningfromthiswalktherectorwasjoyfulasachild;heforesaw，withthenaiveteofapoet，theprosperityofhisdearvillage——forapoetisaman，ishenot？whorealizeshopesbeforetheyripen。MonsieurBonnetgarneredhishayashestoodoverlookingthatbarrenplainfromMadameGraslin’supperterrace。
XV
STORYOFAGALLEY—SLAVE
ThenextdayFarrabescheandhissoncametothechateauwithgame。
Thekeeperalsobrought，forFrancis，acocoanutcup，elaboratelycarved，agenuineworkofart，representingabattle。MadameGraslinwaswalkingatthetimeontheterrace，inthedirectionwhichoverlookedLesTascherons。Shesatdownonabench，tookthecupinherhandandlookedearnestlyatthedeftpieceofwork。Afewtearscameintohereyes。
\"Youmusthavesufferedverymuch，\"shesaidtoFarrabesche，afterafewmoments’silence。
\"HowcouldIhelpit，madame？\"hereplied;\"forIwastherewithoutthehopeofescape，whichsupportsthelifeofmostconvicts。\"
\"Anawfullife！\"shesaidinatoneofhorror，invitingFarrabeschebywordandgesturetosaymore。
FarrabeschetooktheconvulsivetremblingandothersignsofemotionhesawinMadameGraslinforthepowerfulinterestofcompassionatecuriosityinhimself。
JustthenMadameSauviatappeared，comingdownapathasifshemeanttojointhem;butVeroniquedrewoutherhandkerchiefandmadeanegativesign;saying，withanasperityshehadneverbeforeshowntotheoldwoman:——
\"Leaveme，leaveme，mother。\"
\"Madame，\"saidFarrabesche，\"fortenyearsIworethere（holdingouthisleg）achainfastenedtoagreatironringwhichboundmetoanotherman。DuringmytimeIhadtolivethuswiththreedifferentconvicts。Isleptonawoodenbench;Ihadtoworkextraordinarilyhardtoearnalittlemattresscalleda/serpentin/。Eachdormitorycontainseighthundredmen。Eachbed，calleda/tolard/，holdstwenty—
fourmen，chainedincouples。Everynightthechainofeachcoupleispassedroundanothergreatchainwhichiscalledthe/filetderamas/。
Thischainholdsallthecouplesbythefeet，andrunsalongthebottomofthe/tolard/。Ittookmeovertwoyearstogetaccustomedtothatironclanking，whichcalledoutincessantly，’Thouartagalley—
slave！’IfIsleptaninstantsomevilecompanionmovedorquarrelled，remindingmeofwhereIwas。Thereisaterribleapprenticeshiptomakebeforeamancanlearnhowtosleep。ImyselfcouldnotsleepuntilIhadcometotheendofmystrengthandtoutterexhaustion。
WhenatlastsleepcameIhadthenightsinwhichtoforget。Oh！to/forget/，madame，thatwassomething！Oncethere，amanmustlearntosatisfyhisneeds，eveninthesmallestthings，accordingtothewayslaiddownbypitilessregulations。Imagine，madame，theeffectsuchalifeproducedonaladlikeme，whohadlivedinthewoodswiththebirdsandthesquirrels！IfIhadnotalreadylivedforsixmonthswithinprison—walls，Ishould，inspiteofMonsieurBonnet’sgrandwords——forhe，Icantrulysay，isthefatherofmysoul——Ishould，ah！Imusthaveflungmyselfintotheseaatthemeresightofmycompanions。Out—doorsIstillcouldlive;butinthebuilding，whethertosleeportoeat，——toeatoutofbuckets，andeachbucketfilledforthreecouples，——itwaslifenolonger，itwasdeath;theatrociousfacesandlanguageofmycompanionswerealwaysinsufferabletome。
Happily，fromfiveo’clockinsummer，andfromhalf—pastseveno’clockinwinterwewent，inspiteofheatorcoldandwindorrain，on’fatigue，’thatis，hard—labor。Thushalfthislifewasspentintheopenair;andtheairwassweetaftertheclosedormitorypackedwitheighthundredconvicts。Andthatair，too，issea—air！Wecouldenjoythebreezes，wecouldbefriendswiththesun，wecouldwatchthecloudsastheypassedaboveus，wecouldhopeandprayforfineweather！Asforme，Itookaninterestinmywork——\"
Farrabeschestopped;twoheavytearswererollingdownhismistress’sface。
\"Oh！madame，Ihaveonlytoldyouthebestsideofthatlife，\"hecontinued，takingtheexpressionofherfaceasmeantforhim。\"Theterribleprecautionstakenbythegovernment，theconstantspyingofthekeepers，theblacksmith’sinspectionofthechainseveryday，nightandmorning，thecoarsefood，thehideousgarmentswhichhumiliateamanatallhours，thecomfortlesssleep，thehorriblerattlingofeighthundredchainsinthatresoundinghall，theprospectofbeingshotorblowntopiecesbycannoniftenofthosevillainstookafancytorevolt，allthosedreadfulthingsarenothing，——
nothing，Itellyou;thatisthebrightsideonly。There’sanotherside，madame，andadecentman，abourgeois，woulddieofhorrorinaweek。Aconvictisforcedtolivewithanotherman;obligedtoendurethecompanyoffiveothermenateverymeal，twenty—threeinhisbedatnight，andtoheartheirlanguage！Thegreatsocietyofgalley—
slaves，madame，hasitssecretlaws;disobeythemandyouaretortured;obeythem，andyoubecomeatorturer。Youmustbeeithervictimorexecutioner。Iftheywouldkillyouatonceitwouldatleastbethecureoflife。Butno，theyarewiserthanthatindoingevil。Itisimpossibletoholdoutagainstthehatredofthesemen;
theirpowerisabsoluteoveranyprisonerwhodispleasesthem，andtheycanmakehislifeatormentfarworsethandeath。Themanwhorepentsandendeavorstobehavewellistheircommonenemy;aboveall，theysuspecthimofinforming;andaninformerisputtodeath，oftenonmeresuspicion。Everyhallandcommunityofeighthundredconvictshasitstribunal，inwhicharejudgedthecrimescommittedagainstthatsociety。Nottoobeytheusagesiscriminal，andamanisliabletopunishment。Forinstance，everymanmustco—operateinescapes;
everyconvicthashistimeassignedhimtoescape，andallhisfellow—
convictsmustprotectandaidhim。Torevealwhatacomradeisdoingwithaviewtoescapeiscriminal。Iwillnotspeaktoyouofthehorriblecustomsandmoralsofthegalleys。Nomanbelongstohimself;
thegovernment，inordertoneutralizetheattemptsatrevoltorescape，takespainstochaintwocontrarynaturesandintereststogether;andthismakesthetortureofthecouplingunendurable;menarelinkedtogetherwhohateordistrusteachother。\"
\"Howwasitwithyou？\"askedMadameGraslin。
\"Ah！there，\"repliedFarrabesche，\"Ihadluck;Ineverdrewalottokillaconvict;Ineverhadtovotethedeathofanyoneofthem;I
neverwaspunished;nomantookadisliketome;andIgotonwellwiththethreedifferentmenIwaschainedto;theyallfearedmebutlikedme。Onereasonwas，mynamewasknownandfamousatthegalleysbeforeIgotthere。A/chauffeur/！theythoughtmeoneofthosebrigands。Ihaveseen/chauffing/，\"continuedFarrabescheafterapause，inalowvoice，\"butInevereitherdiditmyself，ortookanyofthemoneyobtainedbyit。Iwasarefractory，Ievadedtheconscription，thatwasall。Ihelpedmycomrades，Ikeptwatch;Iwassentinelandbroughtuptherear—guard;butInevershedanyman’sbloodexceptinself—defence。Ah！ItoldalltoMonsieurBonnetandmylawyer，andthejudgesknewwellenoughthatIwasnomurderer。But，allthesame，Iamagreatcriminal;nothingthatIeverdidwasmorallyright。However，beforeIgotthere，asIwassaying，twoofmycomradestoldofmeasamanabletodogreatthings。Atthegalleys，madame，nothingissovaluableasthatreputation，notevenmoney。Inthatrepublicofmiserymurderisapassporttotranquillity。Ididnothingtodestroythatopinionofme。Iwassad，resigned，andtheymistooktheappearanceofit。Mygloomymanner，mysilence，passedforferocity。Allthatworld，convicts，keepers，youngandold，respectedme。Iwastreatedasfirstinmyhall。Nooneinterferedwithmysleep;Iwasneversuspectedofinforming;Ibehavedhonorablyaccordingtotheirideas;Ineverrefusedtodoservice;Inevertestifiedtheslightestrepugnance;Ihowledwiththewolvesoutside，IprayedtoGodwithin。Mylastcompanioninchainswasasoldier，twenty—twoyearsofage，whohadcommittedatheftanddesertedinconsequenceofit。Wewerechainedtogetherforfouryears，andwewerefriends;whereverImaybeIamcertaintomeethimwhenhistimeisup。Thispoordevil，whosenameisGuepin，isnotascoundrel，heismerelyheedless;hispunishmentmayreformhim。Ifmycomradeshaddiscoveredthatreligionledmetosubmittomytrials，——thatImeant，whenmytimewasup，tolivehumblyinacorner，lettingnooneknowwhereIwas，intendingtoforgettheirhorriblecommunityandnevertocrossthepathofanyofthem，——theywouldprobablyhavedrivenmemad。\"
\"Then，\"saidMadameGraslin，\"ifapooryoungman，atendersoul，carriedawaybypassion，havingcommittedamurder，wassparedfromdeathandsenttothegalleys——\"
\"Oh！madame，\"saidFarrabesche，interruptingher，\"thereisnosparinginthat。Thesentencemaybecommutedtotwentyyearsatthegalleys，butforadecentyoungman，thatisawful！Icouldnotspeaktoyouofthelifethatawaitshimthere;athousandtimesbetterdie。Yes，todieuponthescaffoldishappinessincomparison。\"
\"Idarednotthinkit，\"murmuredMadameGraslin。
Shehadturnedaswhiteaswax。Tohideherfaceshelaidherforeheadonthebalustrade，andkeptitthereseveralminutes。Farrabeschedidnotknowwhetherheoughttogoorremain。
MadameGraslinraisedherheadatlast，lookedatFarrabeschewithanalmostmajesticair，andsaid，tohisamazement，inavoicethatstirredhisheart:——
\"Thankyou，myfriend。But，\"sheadded，afterapause，\"wheredidyoufindcouragetoliveandsuffer？\"
\"Ah！madame，MonsieurBonnetputatreasurewithinmysoul！andforthatIlovehimbetterthanallelseonearth。\"
\"BetterthanCatherine？\"saidMadameGraslin，smilingwithasortofbitterness。
\"Almostaswell，madame。\"
\"Howdidhedoit？\"
\"Madame，thewordsandthevoiceofthatmanconqueredme。CatherinebroughthimtothatholeinthegroundIshowedyouonthecommon;hehadcomefearlesslyalone。Hewas，hesaid，thenewrectorofMontegnac;Iwashisparishioner，helovedme;heknewIwasonlymisguided，notlost;hedidnotintendtobetrayme，buttosaveme;
inshort，hesaidmanysuchthingsthatstirredmysoultoitsdepths。
Thatman，madame，commandsyoutodorightwithasmuchforceasthosewhotellyoutodowrong。Itwashewhotoldme，poordearman，thatCatherinewasamother，andthatIwasdoomingtwobeingstoshameanddesertion。’Well，’Isaidtohim，’theyarelikeme;Ihavenofuture。’HeansweredthatIhadafuture，twobadfutures，beforeme——
oneinanotherworld，oneinthisworld——ifIpersistedinnotchangingmywayoflife。Inthisworld，Ishoulddieonthescaffold。
IfIwerecapturedmydefencewouldbeimpossible。Onthecontrary，ifItookadvantageoftheleniencyofthenewgovernmenttowardallcrimestraceabletotheconscription，ifIdeliveredmyselfup，hebelievedhecouldsavemylife;hewouldengageagoodlawyer，whowouldgetmeoffwithtenyearsatthegalleys。ThenMonsieurBonnettalkedtomeoftheotherlife。CatherineweptliketheMagdalen——See，madame，\"saidFarrabesche，holdingouthisrightarm，\"herfacewasinthathand，andIfeltitwetwithtears。Sheimploredmetolive。
MonsieurBonnetpromisedtosecureme，whenIhadservedmysentence，apeacefullifeherewithmychild，andtoprotectmeagainstaffront。
Hecatechisedmeashewouldalittlechild。Afterthreesuchvisitsatnighthemademeassuppleasaglove。Wouldyouliketoknowhow，madame？\"
FarrabescheandMadameGraslinlookedateachother，notexplainingtothemselvestheirmutualcuriosity。