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countess； Pere Fourchon and Mouche arrived at this establishment。 From
that vantage…ground Pere Fourchon； under pretence of rope…making；
could watch Les Aigues and see every one who went in and out。 Nothing
escaped him； the opening of the blinds； tete…a…tete loiterings； or the
least little incidents of country life； were spied upon by the old
fellow； who had set up this business within the last three years；a
trifling circumstance which neither the masters； nor the servants； nor
the keepers of Les Aigues had as yet remarked upon。
〃Go round to the house by the gate of the Avonne while I put away the
tackle；〃 said Pere Fourchon to his attendant； 〃and when you have
blabbed about the thing； they'll no doubt send after me to the Grand…
I…Vert； where I am going for a drop of drink；for it makes one
thirsty enough to wade in the water that way。 If you do just as I tell
you； you'll hook a good breakfast out of them； try to meet the
countess； and give a slap at me； and that will put it into her head to
come and preach morality or something！ There's lots of good wine to
get out of it。〃
After these last instructions； which the sly look in Mouche's face
rendered quite superfluous； the old peasant； hugging the otter under
his arm； disappeared along the country road。
Half…way between the gate and the village there stood； at the time
when Emile Blondet stayed at Les Aigues； one of those houses which are
never seen but in parts of France where stone is scarce。 Bits of
bricks picked up anywhere； cobblestones set like diamonds in the clay
mud； formed very solid walls； though worn in places； the roof was
supported by stout branches and covered with rushes and straw； while
the clumsy shutters and the broken doorin short； everything about
the cottage was the product of lucky finds； or of gifts obtained by
begging。
The peasant has an instinct for his habitation like that of an animal
for its nest or its burrow； and this instinct was very marked in all
the arrangements of this cottage。 In the first place； the door and the
window looked to the north。 The house； placed on a little rise in the
stoniest angle of a vineyard； was certainly healthful。 It was reached
by three steps； carefully made with stakes and planks filled in with
broken stone and gravel； so that the water ran off rapidly； and as the
rain seldom comes from the northward in Burgundy； no dampness could
rot the foundations； slight as they were。 Below the steps and along
the path ran a rustic paling； hidden beneath a hedge of hawthorn and
sweet…brier。 An arbor； with a few clumsy tables and wooden benches；
filled the space between the cottage and the road； and invited the
passers…by to rest themselves。 At the upper end of the bank by the
house roses grew； and wall…flowers； violets； and other flowers that
cost nothing。 Jessamine and honey…suckle had fastened their tendrils
on the roof； mossy already； though the building was far from old。
To the right of the house； the owner had built a stable for two cows。
In front of this erection of old boards； a sunken piece of ground
served as a yard where； in a corner； was a huge manure…heap。 On the
other side of the house and the arbor stood a thatched shed； supported
on trunks of trees； under which the various outdoor properties of the
peasantry were put away；the utensils of the vine…dressers； their
empty casks； logs of wood piled about a mound which contained the
oven； the mouth of which opened； as was usual in the houses of the
peasantry； under the mantle…piece of the chimney in the kitchen。
About an acre of land adjoined the house； inclosed by an evergreen
hedge and planted with grape…vines； tended as peasants tend them；
that is to say； well…manured； and dug round； and layered so that they
usually set their fruit before the vines of the large proprietors in a
circuit of ten miles round。 A few trees； almond； plum； and apricot；
showed their slim heads here and there in this enclosure。 Between the
rows of vines potatoes and beans were planted。 In addition to all
this； on the side towards the village and beyond the yard was a bit of
damp low ground； favorable for the growth of cabbages and onions
（favorite vegetables of the working…classes）； which was closed by a
wooden gate； through which the cows were driven； trampling the path
into mud and covering it with dung。
The house； which had two rooms on the ground…floor； opened upon the
vineyard。 On this side an outer stairway； roofed with thatch and
resting against the wall of the house； led up to the garret； which was
lighted by one round window。 Under this rustic stairway opened a
cellar built of Burgundy brick； containing several casks of wine。
Though the kitchen utensils of the peasantry are usually only two；
namely； a frying…pan and an iron pot； with which they manage to do all
their cooking； exceptions to this rule； in the shape of two enormous
saucepans hanging beneath the mantle…shelf and above a small portable
stove； were to be seen in this cottage。 In spite； however； of this
indication of luxury； the furniture was in keeping with the external
appearance of the place。 A jar held water； the spoons were of wood or
pewter； the dishes； of red clay without and white within； were scaling
off and had been mended with pewter rivets； the heavy table and chairs
were of pine wood； and for flooring there was nothing better than the
hardened earth。 Every fifth year the walls received a coat of white…
wash and so did the narrow beams of the ceiling； from which hung
bacon； strings of onions； bundles of tallow candles； and the bags in
which a peasant keeps his seeds； near the bread…box stood an old…
fashioned wardrobe in walnut； where the scanty household linen； and
the one change of garments together with the holiday attire of the
entire family were kept。
Above the mantel of the chimney gleamed a poacher's old gun； not worth
five francs；the wood scorched； the barrel to all appearances never
cleaned。 An observer might reflect that the protection of a hovel with
only a latch； and an outer gate that was only a paling and never
closed； needed no better weapon； but still the wonder was to what use
it was put。 In the first place； though the wood was of the commonest
kind； the barrel was carefully selected； and came from a valuable gun；
given in all probability to a game…keeper。 Moreover； the owner of this
weapon never missed his aim； there was between him and his gun the
same intimate acquaintance that there is between a workman and his
tool。 If the muzzle must be raised or lowered the merest fraction in
its aim； because it carries just an atom above or below the range； the
poacher knows it； he obeys the rule and never misses。 An officer of
artillery would have found the essential parts of this weapon in good
condition notwithstanding its uncleanly appearance。 In all that the
peasant appropriates to his use； in all that serves him； he displays
just the amount of force that is neede