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〃Do you know the thief？〃
And Lecacheur replied； with a look of Normandy slyness in his eyes：
〃As for knowing him； I do not； as I did not see him commit the theft。
If I had seen him； I should have made him eat it raw； skin and flesh；
without a drop of cider to wash it down。 But as for saying who it is；
I cannot； although I believe it is that good…for…nothing Polyte。〃
Then he related at length his troubles with Polyte； his leaving his
service； his bad reputation； things which had been told him； accumulating
insignificant and minute proofs； and then； the brigadier； who had been
listening very attentively while he emptied his glass and filled it again
with an indifferent air； turned to his gendarme and said：
〃We must go and look in the cottage of Severin's wife。〃 At which the
gendarme smiled and nodded three times。
Then Madame Lecacheur came to them； and very quietly； with all a
peasant's cunning； questioned the brigadier in her turn。 That shepherd
Severin； a simpleton； a sort of brute who had been brought up and had
grown up among his bleating flocks； and who knew scarcely anything
besides them in the world； had nevertheless preserved the peasant's
instinct for saving； at the bottom of his heart。 For years and years he
must have hidden in hollow trees and crevices in the rocks all that he
earned； either as a shepherd or by curing animals' sprainsfor the
bonesetter's secret had been handed down to him by the old shepherd whose
place he took…by touch or word； and one day he bought a small property；
consisting of a cottage and a field； for three thousand francs。
A few months later it became known that he was going to marry a servant；
notorious for her bad morals； the innkeeper's servant。 The young fellows
said that the girl； knowing that he was pretty well off； had been to his
cottage every night； and had taken him； captured him； led him on to
matrimony； little by little night by night。
And then； having been to the mayor's office and to church； she now lived
in the house which her man had bought； while he continued to tend his
flocks； day and night； on the plains。
And the brigadier added：
〃Polyte has been sleeping there for three weeks； for the thief has no
place of his own to go to！〃
The gendarme made a little joke：
〃He takes the shepherd's blankets。〃
Madame Lecacheur； who was seized by a fresh access of rage； of rage
increased by a married woman's anger against debauchery； exclaimed：
〃It is she； I am sure。 Go there。 Ah； the blackguard thieves！
But the brigadier was quite unmoved。
〃One minute；〃 he said。 〃Let us wait until twelve o'clock； as he goes and
dines there every day。 I shall catch them with it under their noses。〃
The gendarme smiled； pleased at his chief's idea； and Lecacheur also
smiled now； for the affair of the shepherd struck him as very funny；
deceived husbands are always a joke。
Twelve o'clock had just struck when the brigadier； followed by his man；
knocked gently three times at the door of a little lonely house； situated
at the corner of a wood； five hundred yards from the village。
They had been standing close against the wall； so as not to be seen from
within； and they waited。 As nobody answered； the brigadier knocked again
in a minute or two。 It was so quiet that the house seemed uninhabited；
but Lenient； the gendarme； who had very quick ears； said that he heard
somebody moving about inside； and then Senateur got angry。 He would not
allow any one to resist the authority of the law for a moment； and；
knocking at the door with the hilt of his sword； he cried out：
〃Open the door； in the name of the law。〃
As this order had no effect； he roared out：
〃If you do not obey； I shall smash the lock。 I am the brigadier of the
gendarmerie； by G！ Here； Lenient。〃
He had not finished speaking when the door opened and Senateur saw before
him a fat girl； with a very red； blowzy face； with drooping breasts； a
big stomach and broad hips； a sort of animal； the wife of the shepherd
Severin； and he went into the cottage。
〃I have come to pay you a visit； as I want to make a little search；〃 he
said； and he looked about him。 On the table there was a plate； a jug of
cider and a glass half full； which proved that a meal was in progress。
Two knives were lying side by side； and the shrewd gendarme winked at his
superior officer。
〃It smells good；〃 the latter said。
〃One might swear that it was stewed rabbit；〃 Lenient added； much amused。
〃Will you have a glass of brandy？〃 the peasant woman asked。
〃No； thank you； I only want the skin of the rabbit that you are eating。〃
She pretended not to understand； but she was trembling。
〃What rabbit？〃
The brigadier had taken a seat； and was calmly wiping his forehead。
〃Come； come； you are not going to try and make us believe that you live
on couch grass。 What were you eating there all by yourself for your
dinner？〃
〃I？ Nothing whatever； I swear to you。 A mite of butter on my bread。〃
〃You are a novice； my good woman。 A mite of butter on your bread。
You are mistaken； you ought to have said： a mite of butter on the rabbit。
By G；your butter smells good！ It is special butter； extra good butter；
butter fit for a wedding； certainly； not household butter！〃
The gendarme was shaking with laughter； and repeated：
〃Not household butter certainly。〃
As Brigadier Senateur was a joker； all the gendarmes had grown facetious；
and the officer continued：
〃Where is your butter？〃
〃My butter？〃
〃Yes； your butter。〃
〃In the jar。〃
〃Then where is the butter jar？〃
〃Here it is。〃
She brought out an old cup； at the bottom of which there was a layer of
rancid salt butter； and the brigadier smelled of it； and said； with a
shake of his head：
〃It is not the same。 I want the butter that smells of the rabbit。 Come；
Lenient； open your eyes； look under the sideboard； my good fellow； and I
will look under the bed。〃
Having shut the door； he went up to the bed and tried to move it； but it
was fixed to the wall； and had not been moved for more than half a
century； apparently。 Then the brigadier stooped； and made his uniform
crack。 A button had flown off。
〃Lenient；〃 he said。
〃Yes； brigadier？〃
〃Come here； my lad； and look under the bed； I am too tall。 I will look
after the sideboard。〃
He got up and waited while his man executed his orders。
Lenient； who was short and stout； took off his kepi； laid himself on his
stomach； and； putting his face on the floor； looked at the black cavity
under the bed； and then； suddenly； he exclaimed：
〃All right； here we are！〃
〃What have you got？ The rabbit？〃
〃No； the thief。〃
〃The thief！ Pull him out； pull him out！〃
The gendarme had put his arms under the bed and laid hold of something；
and he was pulling with all his might； and at last a foot； shod in a
thick boot； appeared； which he was holding in his right hand。 The
brigadier took it； crying：
〃Pull！ Pull！〃
And Lenient； who was on his knees by that time； was pulling at the other
leg。 But it was a hard job； for the prisoner kicked out hard； and arched
up his back under the bed。
〃Courage！ courage！ pull！ pull！〃 Sen