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e unless you carry out my instructions！ You have been giving him bread； you want to kill your husband； I suppose？ Botheration！ If after this you give him anything besides the tisane of couch…grass； I will never set foot in here again； and you can look where you like for another doctor。〃
〃But； dear M。 Benassis； my old man was starving； and when he had eaten nothing for a whole fortnight〃
〃Oh； yes； yes。 Now will you listen to me。 If you let your husband eat a single mouthful of bread before I give him leave to take solid food； you will kill him； do you hear？〃
〃He shall not have anything； sir。 Is he any better？〃 she asked； following the doctor to the door。
〃Why； no。 You have made him worse by feeding him。 Shall I never get it into your stupid heads that you must not stuff people who are being dieted？〃
〃The peasants are incorrigible；〃 Benassis went on； speaking to Genestas。 〃If a patient has eaten nothing for two or three days； they think he is at death's door； and they cram him with soup or wine or something。 Here is a wretched woman for you that has all but killed her husband。〃
〃Kill my husband with a little mite of a sop in wine！〃
〃Certainly； my good woman。 It amazes me that he is still alive after the mess you cooked for him。 Mind that you do exactly as I have told you。〃
〃Yes； dear sir； I would far rather die myself than lose him。〃
〃Oh！ as to that I shall soon see。 I shall come again to…morrow evening to bleed him。〃
〃Let us walk along the side of the stream；〃 Benassis said to Genestas； 〃there is only a footpath between this cottage and the next house where I must pay a call。 That man's little boy will hold our horses。〃
〃You must admire this lovely valley of ours a little；〃 he went on； 〃it is like an English garden； is it not？ The laborer who lives in the cottage which we are going to visit has never got over the death of one of his children。 The eldest boy； he was only a lad； would try to do a man's work last harvest…tide； it was beyond his strength； and before the autumn was out he died of a decline。 This is the first case of really strong fatherly love that has come under my notice。 As a rule； when their children die； the peasant's regret is for the loss of a useful chattel； and a part of their stock…in…trade； and the older the child； the heavier their sense of loss。 A grown…up son or daughter is so much capital to the parents。 But this poor fellow really loved that boy of his。 'Nothing cam comfort me for my loss；' he said one day when I came across him out in the fields。 He had forgotten all about his work； and was standing there motionless； leaning on his scythe； he had picked up his hone； it lay in his hand； and he had forgotten to use it。 He has never spoken since of his grief to me； but he has grown sad and silent。 Just now it is one of his little girls who is ill。〃
Benassis and his guest reached the little house as they talked。 It stood beside a pathway that led to a bark…mill。 They saw a man about forty years of age； standing under a willow tree； eating bread that had been rubbed with a clove of garlic。
〃Well； Gasnier； is the little one doing better？〃
〃I do not know； sir；〃 he said dejectedly； 〃you will see； my wife is sitting with her。 In spite of all your care； I am very much afraid that death will come to empty my home for me。〃
〃Do not lose heart； Gasnier。 Death is too busy to take up his abode in any dwelling。〃
Benassis went into the house； followed by the father。 Half an hour later he came out again。 The mother was with him this time； and he spoke to her； 〃You need have no anxiety about her now； follow out my instructions； she is out of danger。〃
〃If you are growing tired of this sort of thing；〃 the doctor said to the officer； as he mounted his horse； 〃I can put you on the way to the town； and you can return。〃
〃No； I am not tired of it； I give you my word。〃
〃But you will only see cottages everywhere； and they are all alike； nothing； to outward seeming； is more monotonous than the country。〃
〃Let us go on；〃 said the officer。
They rode on in this way for several hours； and after going from one side of the canton to the other； they returned towards evening to the precincts of the town。
〃I must just go over there；〃 the doctor said to Genestas； as he pointed out a place where a cluster of elm…trees grew。 〃Those trees may possibly be two hundred years old；〃 he went on； 〃and that is where the woman lives； on whose account the lad came to fetch me last night at dinner； with a message that she had turned quite white。〃
〃Was it anything serious？〃
〃No；〃 said Benassis； 〃an effect of pregnancy。 It is the last month with her； a time at which some women suffer from spasms。 But by way of precaution； I must go in any case to make sure that there are no further alarming symptoms； I shall see her through her confinement myself。 And； moreover； I should like to show you one of our new industries； there is a brick…field here。 It is a good road； shall we gallop？〃
〃Will your animal keep up with mine？〃 asked Genestas。 〃Heigh！ Neptune！〃 he called to his horse； and in a moment the officer had been carried far ahead； and was lost to sight in a cloud of dust； but in spite of the paces of his horse he still heard the doctor beside him。 At a word from Benassis his own horse left the commandant so far behind that the latter only came up with him at the gate of the brick… field； where the doctor was quietly fastening the bridle to the gate… post。
〃The devil take it！〃 cried Genestas； after a look at the horse； that was neither sweated nor blown。 〃What kind of animal have you there？〃
〃Ah！〃 said the doctor； 〃you took him for a screw！ The history of this fine fellow would take up too much time just now； let it suffice to say that Roustan is a thoroughbred barb from the Atlas mountains； and a Barbary horse is as good as an Arab。 This one of mine will gallop up the mountain roads without turning a hair； and will never miss his footing in a canter along the brink of a precipice。 He was a present to me； and I think that I deserved it； for in this way a father sought to repay me for his daughter's life。 She is one of the wealthiest heiresses in Europe； and she was at the brink of death when I found her on the road to Savoy。 If I were to tell you how I cured that young lady； you would take me for a quack。 Aha！ that is the sound of the bells on the horses and the rumbling of a wagon； it is coming along this way； let us see； perhaps that is Vigneau himself； and if so； take a good look at him！〃
In another moment the officer saw a team of four huge horses； like those which are owned by prosperous farmers in Brie。 The harness； the little bells； and the knots of braid in their manes； were clean and smart。 The great wagon itself was painted bright blue； and perched aloft in it sat a stalwart； sunburned youth； who shouldered his whip like a gun and whistled a tune。
〃No；〃 said Benassis； 〃that is only the wagoner。 But see how the master's prosperity in business is reflected by all his belongings； even by the carter's wagon！ Is it not a sign of a capacity for business not very often met with in remote country places？〃
〃Yes； yes； it all looks very smart indeed；〃 the officer answered。