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…seven measures of barley？' 'Why not？' say I； 'that is my trade。 Do you want it immediately？' 'No；' he says； 'I want it for the beginning of spring； in March。' So far； so good。 Well； we drive our bargain； and we drink a glass； and we agree that he is to pay me the price that the barley fetched at Grenoble last market day； and I am to deliver it in March。 I am to warehouse it at owner's risk； and no allowance for shrinkage of course。 But barley goes up and up； my dear sir； the barley rises like boiling milk。 Then I am hard up for money； and I sell my barley。 Quite natural； sir； was it not？〃
〃No；〃 said Benassis； 〃the barley had passed out of your possession； you were only warehousing it。 And suppose the barley had gone down in value； would you not have compelled your buyer to take it at the price you agreed upon？〃
〃But very likely he would not have paid me； sir。 One must look out for oneself！ The seller ought to make a good profit when the chance comes in his way； and； after； all the goods are not yours until you have paid for them。 That is so； Monsieur l'Officier； is it not？ For you can see that the gentleman has been in the army。〃
〃Taboureau；〃 Benassis said sternly； 〃ill luck will come to you。 Sooner or later God punishes ill deeds。 How can you； knowing as much as you do； a capable man moreover； and a man who conducts his business honorably； set examples of dishonesty to the canton？ If you allow such proceedings as this to be taken against you； how can you expect that the poor will remain honest people and will not rob you？ Your laborers will cheat you out of part of their working hours； and every one here will be demoralized。 You are in the wrong。 Your barley was as good as delivered。 If the man from Saint…Laurent had fetched it himself； you would not have gone there to take it away from him； you have sold something that was no longer yours to sell； for your barley had already been turned into money which was to be paid down at the stipulated time。 But go on。〃
Genestas gave the doctor a significant glance； to call his attention to Taboureau's impassive countenance。 Not a muscle had stirred in the usurer's face during this reprimand； there was no flush on his forehead； and no sign of emotion in his little eyes。
〃Well； sir； I am called upon to supply the barley at last winter's price。 Now _I_ consider that I am not bound to do so。〃
〃Look here； Taboureau； deliver that barley and be very quick about it； or make up your mind to be respected by nobody in the future。 Even if you gained the day in a case like this； you would be looked upon as an unscrupulous man who does not keep to his word； and is not bound by promises； or by honor； or〃
〃Go on； there is nothing to be afraid of； tell me that I am a scamp； a scoundrel； a thief outright。 You can say things like that in business without insulting anybody； M。 le Maire。 'Tis each for himself in business； you know。〃
〃Well； then； why deliberately put yourself in a position in which you deserve to be called by such names？〃
〃But if the law is on my side； sir？〃
〃But the law will certainly NOT be on your side。〃
〃Are you quite sure about it； sir？ Certain sure？ For you see it is an important matter。〃
〃Certainly I am。 Quite sure。 If I were not at dinner； I would have down the code； and you should see for yourself。 If the case comes on； you will lose it； and you will never set foot in my house again； for I do not wish to receive people whom I do not respect。 Do you understand？ You will lose your case。〃
〃Oh！ no； not at all； I shall not lose it； sir；〃 said Taboureau。 〃You see； sir； it is this way； it is the man from Saint…Laurent who owes ME the barley； I bought it of him； and now he refuses to deliver it。 I just wanted to make quite certain that I should gain my case before going to any expense at court about it。〃
Genestas and the doctor exchanged glances； each concealed his amazement at the ingenious device by which the man had sought to learn the truth about this point of law。
〃Very well； Taboureau； your man is a swindler； you should not make bargains with such people。〃
〃Ah！ sir； they understand business； those people do。〃
〃Good…bye； Taboureau。〃
〃Your servant； gentlemen。〃
〃Well； now；〃 remarked Benassis； when the usurer had gone； 〃if that fellow were in Paris； do you not think that he would be a millionaire before very long？〃
After dinner； the doctor and his visitor went back to the salon； and all the rest of the evening until bedtime they talked about war and politics； Genestas evincing a most violent dislike of the English in the course of conversation。
〃May I know whom I have the honor of entertaining as a guest？〃 asked the doctor。
〃My name is Pierre Bluteau；〃 answered Genestas； 〃I am a captain stationed at Grenoble。〃
〃Very well； sir。 Do you care to adopt M。 Gravier's plan？ In the morning after breakfast he liked to go on my rounds with me。 I am not at all sure that you would find anything to interest you in the things that occupy methey are so very commonplace。 For； after all； you own no land about here； nor are you the mayor of the place； and you will see nothing in the canton that you cannot see elsewhere； one thatched cottage is just like another。 Still you will be in the open air； and you will have something to take you out of doors。〃
〃No proposal could give me more pleasure。 I did not venture to make it myself； lest I should thrust myself upon you。〃
Commandant Genestas （who shall keep his own name in spite of the fictitious appellation which he had thought fit to give himself） followed his host to a room on the first floor above the salon。
〃That is right；〃 said Benassis； 〃Jacquotte has lighted a fire for you。 If you want anything； there is a bell…pull close to the head of the bed。〃
〃I am not likely to want anything； however small； it seems to me；〃 exclaimed Genestas。 〃There is even a boot…jack。 Only an old trooper knows what a boot…jack is worth！ There are times； when one is out on a campaign； sir； when one is ready to burn down a house to come by a knave of a boot…jack。 After a few marches； one on the top of another； or above all； after an engagement； there are times when a swollen foot and the soaked leather will not part company； pull as you will； I have had to lie down in my boots more than once。 One can put up with the annoyance so long as one is by oneself。〃
The commandant's wink gave a kind of profound slyness to his last utterance； then he began to make a survey。 Not without surprise； he saw that the room was neatly kept； comfortable； and almost luxurious。
〃What splendor！〃 was his comment。 〃Your own room must be something wonderful。〃
〃Come and see；〃 said the doctor； 〃I am your neighbor； there is nothing but the staircase between us。〃
Genestas was again surprised when he entered the doctor's room； a bare…looking apartment with no adornment on the walls save an old… fashioned wall…paper of a yellowish tint with a pattern of brown roses over it； the color had gone in patches here and there。 There was a roughly painted iron bedstead； two gray cotton curtains were suspended from a wooden bracket above it； and a threadbare strip of carpet lay at the foot； it was like a bed in a hospital。 By the bed…