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who is exasperated at last by an oft…repeated trick： 〃They all say that；
these scamps。 I know all about it。〃 And then he continued： 〃Have you
any papers？〃 〃Yes； I have some。〃 〃Give them to me。〃
Randel took his papers out of his pocket； his certificates； those poor；
worn…out； dirty papers which were falling to pieces； and gave them to the
soldier； who spelled them through； hemming and hawing； and then； having
seen that they were all in order； he gave them back to Randel with the
dissatisfied look of a man whom some one cleverer than himself has
tricked。
After a few moments' further reflection； he asked him： 〃Have you any
money on you？〃 〃No。〃 〃None whatever？〃 〃None。〃 〃Not even a sou？〃 〃Not
even a son！〃 〃How do you live then？〃 〃On what people give me。〃 〃Then you
beg？〃 And Randel answered resolutely： 〃Yes； when I can。〃
Then the gendarme said： 〃I have caught you on the highroad in the act of
vagabondage and begging； without any resources or trade； and so I command
you to come with me。〃 The carpenter got up and said： 〃Wherever you
please。〃 And； placing himself between the two soldiers； even before he
had received the order to do so； he added： 〃Well； lock me up； that will
at any rate put a roof over my head when it rains。〃
And they set off toward the village； the red tiles of which could be seen
through the leafless trees； a quarter of a league off。 Service was about
to begin when they went through the village。 The square was full of
people； who immediately formed two lines to see the criminal pass。
He was being followed by a crowd of excited children。 Male and female
peasants looked at the prisoner between the two gendarmes； with hatred in
their eyes and a longing to throw stones at him； to tear his skin with
their nails； to trample him under their feet。 They asked each other
whether he had committed murder or robbery。 The butcher； who was an ex…
'spahi'； declared that he was a deserter。 The tobacconist thought that
he recognized him as the man who had that very morning passed a bad half…
franc piece off on him； and the ironmonger declared that he was the
murderer of Widow Malet； whom the police had been looking for for six
months。
In the municipal court； into which his custodians took him； Randel saw
the mayor again； sitting on the magisterial bench； with the schoolmaster
by his side。 〃Aha！ aha！〃 the magistrate exclaimed； 〃so here you are
again； my fine fellow。 I told you I should have you locked up。 Well；
brigadier； what is he charged with？〃
〃He is a vagabond without house or home； Monsieur le Maire； without any
resources or money； so he says； who was arrested in the act of begging；
but he is provided with good testimonials； and his papers are all in
order。〃
〃Show me his papers；〃 the mayor said。 He took them； read them； reread；
returned them and then said： 〃Search him。〃 So they searched him； but
found nothing； and the mayor seemed perplexed； and asked the workman：
〃What were you doing on the road this morning？〃 〃I was looking for work。〃
〃Work？ On the highroad？〃 〃How do you expect me to find any if I hide in
the woods？〃
They looked at each other with the hatred of two wild beasts which belong
to different hostile species； and the magistrate continued： 〃I am going
to have you set at liberty； but do not be brought up before me again。〃
To which the carpenter replied： 〃I would rather you locked me up； I have
had enough running about the country。〃 But the magistrate replied
severely： 〃be silent。〃 And then he said to the two gendarmes： 〃You will
conduct this man two hundred yards from the village and let him continue
his journey。〃
〃At any rate； give me something to eat；〃 the workman said； but the other
grew indignant： 〃Have we nothing to do but to feed you？ Ah！ ah！ ah！
that is rather too much！〃 But Randel went on firmly： 〃If you let me
nearly die of hunger again； you will force me to commit a crime； and
then； so much the worse for you other fat fellows。〃
The mayor had risen and he repeated： 〃Take him away immediately or I
shall end by getting angry。〃
The two gendarmes thereupon seized the carpenter by the arms and dragged
him out。 He allowed them to do it without resistance； passed through the
village again and found himself on the highroad once more； and when the
men had accompanied him two hundred yards beyond the village； the
brigadier said： 〃Now off with you and do not let me catch you about here
again； for if I do； you will know it。〃
Randel went off without replying or knowing where he was going。 He
walked on for a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes； so stupefied that
he no longer thought of anything。 But suddenly； as he was passing a
small house； where the window was half open； the smell of the soup and
boiled meat stopped him suddenly； and hunger； fierce； devouring；
maddening hunger； seized him and almost drove him against the walls of
the house like a wild beast。
He said aloud in a grumbling voice： 〃In Heaven's name！ they must give me
some this time！〃 And he began to knock at the door vigorously with his
stick； and as no one came he knocked louder and called out： 〃Hey！ hey！
you people in there； open the door！〃 And then； as nothing stirred； he
went up to the window and pushed it wider open with his hand； and the
close warm air of the kitchen； full of the smell of hot soup； meat and
cabbage； escaped into the cold outer air； and with a bound the carpenter
was in the house。 Two places were set at the table； and no doubt the
proprietors of the house； on going to church； had left their dinner on
the fire； their nice Sunday boiled beef and vegetable soup； while there
was a loaf of new bread on the chimney…piece； between two bottles which
seemed full。
Randel seized the bread first of all and broke it with as much violence
as if he were strangling a man； and then he began to eat voraciously；
swallowing great mouthfuls quickly。 But almost immediately the smell of
the meat attracted him to the fireplace； and； having taken off the lid of
the saucepan； he plunged a fork into it and brought out a large piece of
beef tied with a string。 Then he took more cabbage； carrots and onions
until his plate was full； and； having put it on the table； he sat down
before it； cut the meat into four pieces； and dined as if he had been at
home。 When he had eaten nearly all the meat； besides a quantity of
vegetables； he felt thirsty and took one of the bottles off the
mantelpiece。
Scarcely had he poured the liquor into his glass when he saw it was
brandy。 So much the better； it was warming and would instill some fire
into his veins； and that would be all right； after being so cold； and he
drank some。 He certainly enjoyed it； for he had grown unaccustomed to
it； and he poured himself out another glassful； which he drank at two
gulps。 And then almost immediately he felt quite merry and light…hearted
from the effects of the alcohol； just as if some great happiness filled
his heart。
He continued to eat； but more slowly； and dipping his bread into the
soup。 His skin had become burning； and especially his forehead； where
the veins were throbbing。 But suddenly the church bells began to rin