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self tidy and has not fair hair。 She was as white as snow； she had eyes like velvet； and dark lashes to them like rats' tails； her hair was so thick and glossy that it made you long to stroke it。 She was perfection； and nothing less！ I was the first to discover this curious arrangement。 I was walking up and down outside one evening； smoking my pipe； after they thought I had gone to bed。 The children came in helter…skelter； tumbling over one another like so many puppies。 It was fun to watch them。 Then they had supper with their father and mother。 I strained my eyes to see the young Jewess through the clouds of smoke that her father blew from his pipe； she looked like a new gold piece among a lot of copper coins。
〃I had never reflected about love； my dear Benassis； I had never had time； but now at the sight of this young girl I lost my heart and head and everything else at once； and then it was plain to me that I had never been in love before。 I was hard hit； and over head and ears in love。 There I stayed smoking my pipe； absorbed in watching the Jewess until she blew out the candle and went to bed。 I could not close my eyes。 The whole night long I walked up and down the street smoking my pipe and refilling it from time to time。 I had never felt like that before； and for the first and last time in my life I thought of marrying。
〃At daybreak I saddled my horse and rode out into the country； to clear my head。 I kept him at a trot for two mortal hours； and all but foundered the animal before I noticed it〃
Genestas stopped short； looked at his new friend uneasily； and said； 〃You must excuse me； Benassis； I am no orator； things come out just as they turn up in my mind。 In a room full of fine folk I should feel awkward； but here in the country with you〃
〃Go on；〃 said the doctor。
〃When I came back to my room I found Renard finely flustered。 He thought I had fallen in a duel。 He was cleaning his pistols； his head full of schemes for fastening a quarrel on any one who should have turned me off into the dark。 。 。 。 Oh！ that was just the fellow's way！ I confided my story to Renard； showed him the kennel where the children were； and； as my comrade understood the jargon that those heathens talked； I begged him to help me to lay my proposals before her father and mother； and to try to arrange some kind of communication between me and Judith。 Judith they called her。 In short； sir； for a fortnight the Jew and his wife so arranged matters that we supped every night with Judith； and for a fortnight I was the happiest of men。 You understand and you know how it was； so I shall not wear out your patience； still； if you do not smoke； you cannot imagine how pleasant it was to smoke a pipe at one's ease with Renard and the girl's father and one's princess there before one's eyes。 Oh！ yes； it was very pleasant！
〃But I ought to tell you that Renard was a Parisian； and dependent on his father； a wholesale grocer； who had educated his son with a view to making a notary of him； so Renard had come by a certain amount of book learning before he had been drawn by the conscription and had to bid his desk good…bye。 Add to this that he was the kind of man who looks well in a uniform； with a face like a girl's； and a thorough knowledge of the art of wheedling people。 It was HE whom Judith loved； she cared about as much for me as a horse cares for roast fowls。 Whilst I was in the seventh heaven； soaring above the clouds at the bare sight of Judith； my friend Renard （who； as you see； fairly deserved his name） arrived at an understanding with the girl； and to such good purpose； that they were married forthwith after the custom of her country； without waiting for permission； which would have been too long in coming。 He promised her； however； that if it should happen that the validity of this marriage was afterwards called in question； they were to be married again according to French law。 As a matter of fact； as soon as she reached France； Mme。 Renard became Mlle。 Judith once more。
〃If I had known all this； I would have killed Renard then and there； without giving him time to draw another breath； but the father； the mother； the girl herself； and the quartermaster were all in the plot like thieves in a fair。 While I was smoking my pipe； and worshiping Judith as if she had been one of the saints above； the worthy Renard was arranging to meet her； and managing this piece of business very cleverly under my very eyes。
〃You are the only person to whom I have told this story。 A disgraceful thing； I call it。 I have always asked myself how it is that a man who would die of shame if he took a gold coin that did not belong to him； does not scruple to rob a friend of happiness and life and the woman he loves。 My birds； in fact； were married and happy； and there was I； every evening at supper； moonstruck； gazing at Judith； responding like some fellow in a farce to the looks she threw to me in order to throw dust in my eyes。 They have paid uncommonly dear for all this deceit； as you will certainly think。 On my conscience； God pays more attention to what goes on in this world than some of us imagine。
〃Down come the Russians upon us； the country is overrun； and the campaign of 1813 begins in earnest。 One fine morning comes an order； we are to be on the battlefield of Lutzen by a stated hour。 The Emperor knew quite well what he was about when he ordered us to start at once。 The Russians had turned our flank。 Our colonel must needs get himself into a scrape； by choosing that moment to take leave of a Polish lady who lived outside the town； a quarter of a mile away； the Cossack advanced guard just caught him nicely； him and his picket。 There was scarcely time to spring into our saddles and draw up before the town so as to engage in a cavalry skirmish。 We must check the Russian advance if we meant to draw off during the night。 Again and again we charged； and for three hours did wonders。 Under cover of the fighting the baggage and artillery set out。 We had a park of artillery and great stores of powder； of which the Emperor stood in desperate need； they must reach him at all costs。
〃Our resistance deceived the Russians； who thought at first that we were supported by an army corps； but before very long they learned their error from their scouts； and knew that they had only a single regiment of cavalry to deal with and the invalided foot soldiers in the depot。 On finding it out； sir； they made a murderous onslaught on us towards evening； the action was so hot that a good few of us were left on the field。 We were completely surrounded。 I was by Renard's side in the front rank； and I saw how my friend fought and charged like a demon； he was thinking of his wife。 Thanks to him； we managed to regain the town； which our invalids had put more or less in a state of defence； but it was pitiful to see it。 We were the last to return he and I。 A body of Cossacks appeared in our way； and on this we rode in hot haste。 One of the savages was about to run me through with a lance； when Renard； catching a sight of his manoeuvre； thrust his horse between us to turn aside the blow； his poor brutea fine animal it was； upon my wordreceived the lance thrust and fell； bringing down both