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consideration of their wants； change the hearts of these people。〃
At about six hundred feet from the pavilion and below the brooke； the
countess caught sight of a broken red jug and some spilt milk。
〃Something has happened to the poor child！〃 she cried； calling to
Michaud and his wife； who were returning to the pavilion。
〃A misfortune like Perrette's；〃 said Blondet； laughing。
〃No； the poor child has been surprised and pursued； for the jug was
thrown outside the path；〃 said the abbe； examining the ground。
〃Yes； that is certainly La Pechina's step；〃 said Michaud； 〃the print
of the feet； which have turned； you see； quickly； shows sudden terror。
The child must have darted in the direction of the pavilion； trying to
get back there。〃
Every one followed the traces which the bailiff pointed out as he
walked along examining them。 Presently he stopped in the middle of the
path about a hundred feet from the broken jug； where the girl's foot…
prints ceased。
〃Here；〃 he said； 〃she turned towards the Avonne； perhaps she was
headed off from the direction of the pavilion。〃
〃But she has been gone more than an hour；〃 cried Madame Michaud。
Alarm was in all faces。 The abbe ran towards the pavilion； examining
the state of the road； while Michaud； impelled by the same thought；
went up the path towards Conches。
〃Good God！ she fell here；〃 said Michaud； returning from a place where
the footsteps stopped near the brook； to that where they had turned in
the road； and pointing to the ground； he added； 〃See！〃
The marks were plainly seen of a body lying at full length on the
sandy path。
〃The footprints which have entered the wood are those of some one who
wore knitted soles；〃 said the abbe。
〃A woman； then；〃 said the countess。
〃Down there； by the broken pitcher； are the footsteps of a man；〃 added
Michaud。
〃I don't see traces of any other foot；〃 said the abbe； who was
tracking into the wood the prints of the woman's feet。
〃She must have been lifted and carried into the wood；〃 cried Michaud。
〃That can't be； if it is really a woman's foot；〃 said Blondet。
〃It must be some trick of that wretch； Nicolas；〃 said Michaud。 〃He has
been watching La Pechina for some time。 Only this morning I stood two
hours under the bridge of the Avonne to see what he was about。 A woman
may have helped him。〃
〃It is dreadful！〃 said the countess。
〃They call it amusing themselves；〃 added the priest； in a sad and
grieved tone。
〃Oh！ La Pechina would never let them keep her；〃 said the bailiff； 〃she
is quite able to swim across the river。 I shall look along the banks。
Go home； my dear Olympe； and you gentlemen and madame； please to
follow the avenue towards Conches。〃
〃What a country！〃 exclaimed the countess。
〃There are scoundrels everywhere；〃 replied Blondet。
〃Is it true； Monsieur l'abbe；〃 asked Madame de Montcornet； 〃that I
saved the poor child from the clutches of Rigou？〃
〃Every young girl over fiften years of age whom you may protect at the
chateau is saved from that monster；〃 said the abbe。 〃In trying to get
possession of La Pechina from her earliest years； the apostate sought
to satisfy both his lust and his vengeance。 When I took Pere Niseron
as sexton I told him what Rigou's intentions were。 That is one of the
causes of the late mayor's rancor against me； his hatred grew out of
it。 Pere Niseron said to him solemnly that he would kill him if any
harm came to Genevieve； and he made him responsible for all attempts
upon the poor child's honor。 I can't help thinking that this pursuit
of Nicolas is the result of some infernal collusion with Rigou； who
thinks he can do as he likes with these people。〃
〃Doesn't he fear the law？〃
〃In the first place； he is father…in…law of the prosecuting…attorney；〃
said the abbe； pausing to listen。 〃And then；〃 he resumed； 〃you have no
conception of the utter indifference of the rural police to what is
done around them。 So long as the peasants do not burn the farm…houses
and buildings； commit no murders； poison no one； and pay their taxes；
they let them do as they like； and as these people are not restrained
by any religious principle； horrible things happen every day。 On the
other side of the Avonne helpless old men are afraid to stay in their
own homes； for they are allowed nothing to eat； they wander out into
the fields as far as their tottering legs can bear them； knowing well
that if they take to their beds they will die for want of food。
Monsieur Sarcus； the magistrate； tells me that if they arrested and
tried all criminals； the costs would ruin the municipality。〃
〃Then he at least sees how things are？〃 said Blondet。
〃Monseigneur thoroughly understands the condition of the valley； and
especially the state of this district；〃 continued the abbe。 〃Religion
alone can cure such evils； the law seems to me powerless； modified as
it is now〃
The words were interrupted by loud cries from the woods； and the
countess； preceded by Emile and the abbe； sprang bravely into the
brushwood in the direction of the sounds。
CHAPTER XI
THE OARISTYS； EIGHTEENTH ECLOGUE OF THEOCRITUS；
LITTLE ADMIRED ON THE POLICE CALENDAR
The sagacity of a savage； which Michaud's new occupation had developed
among his faculties； joined to an acquaintance with the passions and
interests of Blangy； enabled him partially to understand a third idyll
in the Greek style； which poor villagers like Tonsard； and middle…aged
rich men like Rigou； translate FREELYto use the classic wordin the
depths of their country solitudes。
Nicolas； Tonsard's second son； had drawn an unlucky number at a recent
conscription。 Two years earlier his elder brother had been pronounced；
through the influence of Soudry； Gaubertin； and Sarcus the rich； unfit
for military service； on account of a pretended weakness in the
muscles of the right arm； but as Jean…Louis had since wielded
instruments of husbandry with remarkable force and skill； a good deal
of talk on the subject had gone through the district。 Soudry； Rigou；
and Gaubertin； who were the special protectors of the family； had
warned Tonsard that he must not expect to save Nicolas； who was tall
and vigorous； from being recruited if he drew a fatal number。
Nevertheless Gaubertin and Rigou were so well aware of the importance
of conciliating bold men able and willing to do mischief； if properly
directed against Les Aigues； that Rigou held out certain hopes of
safety to Tonsard and his son。 The late monk was occasionally visited
by Catherine Tonsard who was very devoted to her brother Nicolas； on
one such occasion Rigou advised her to appeal to the general and the
countess。
〃They may be glad to do you this service to cajole you； in that case；
it is just so much gained from the enemy；〃 he said。 〃If the Shopman
refuses； then we shall see what we shall see。〃
Rigou foresaw that the general's refusal wo