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began to flow； and that restored me to life。'
〃And； in fact； I could see that her hand was covered with blood。
〃I fell on my knees； choking with sobs and with a rattling in my throat。
〃Then； when I had somewhat collected my thoughts； though I was still so
bewildered that I scarcely realized the awesome happiness that had
befallen me； I made her go up to my room and sit dawn in my easy…chair；
then I rang excitedly for Prosper to get him to rekindle the fire and to
bring some wine； and to summon assistance。
〃The man entered； stared at my daughter； opened his mouth with a gasp of
alarm and stupefaction； and then fell back dead。
〃It was he who had opened the vault； who had mutilated and then abandoned
my daughter； for he could not efface the traces of the theft。 He had not
even taken the trouble to put back the coffin into its place； feeling
sure； besides； that he would not be suspected by me； as I trusted him
absolutely。
〃You see； monsieur； that we are very unfortunate people。〃
He was silent。
The night had fallen； casting its shadows over the desolate； mournful
vale； and a sort of mysterious fear possessed me at finding myself by the
side of those strange beings； of this young girl who had come back from
the tomb； and this father with his uncanny spasm。
I found it impossible to make any comment on this dreadful story。 I only
murmured：
〃What a horrible thing！〃
Then； after a minute's silence； I added：
〃Let us go indoors。 I think it is growing cool。〃
And we made our way back to the hotel。
IN THE WOOD
As the mayor was about to sit down to breakfast； word was brought to him
that the rural policeman； with two prisoners； was awaiting him at the
Hotel de Ville。 He went there at once and found old Hochedur standing
guard before a middle…class couple whom he was regarding with a severe
expression on his face。
The man； a fat old fellow with a red nose and white hair； seemed utterly
dejected； while the woman； a little roundabout individual with shining
cheeks； looked at the official who had arrested them； with defiant eyes。
〃What is it？ What is it； Hochedur？〃
The rural policeman made his deposition： He had gone out that morning at
his usual time； in order to patrol his beat from the forest of Champioux
as far as the boundaries of Argenteuil。 He had not noticed anything
unusual in the country except that it was a fine day； and that the wheat
was doing well； when the son of old Bredel； who was going over his vines；
called out to him： 〃Here； Daddy Hochedur； go and have a look at the
outskirts of the wood。 In the first thicket you will find a pair of
pigeons who must be a hundred and thirty years old between them！〃
He went in the direction indicated； entered the thicket； and there he
heard words which made him suspect a flagrant breach of morality。
Advancing； therefore； on his hands and knees as if to surprise a poacher；
he had arrested the couple whom he found there。
The mayor looked at the culprits in astonishment； for the man was
certainly sixty； and the woman fifty…five at least； and he began to
question them； beginning with the man； who replied in such a weak voice
that he could scarcely be heard。
〃What is your name？〃
〃Nicholas Beaurain。〃
〃Your occupation？〃
〃Haberdasher； in the Rue des Martyrs； in Paris。〃
〃What were you doing in the wood？〃
The haberdasher remained silent； with his eyes on his fat paunch； and his
hands hanging at his sides； and the mayor continued：
〃Do you deny what the officer of the municipal authorities states？〃
〃No； monsieur。〃
〃So you confess it？〃
〃Yes； monsieur。〃
〃What have you to say in your defence？〃
〃Nothing； monsieur。〃
〃Where did you meet the partner in your misdemeanor？〃
〃She is my wife； monsieur。〃
〃Your wife？〃
〃Yes； monsieur。〃
〃Thenthenyou do not live together…in Paris？〃
〃I beg your pardon； monsieur； but we are living together！〃
〃But in that caseyou must be mad； altogether mad； my dear sir； to get
caught playing lovers in the country at ten o'clock in the morning。〃
The haberdasher seemed ready to cry with shame； and he muttered： 〃It was
she who enticed me！ I told her it was very stupid； but when a woman once
gets a thing into her headyou knowyou cannot get it out。〃
The mayor； who liked a joke； smiled and replied： 〃In your case； the
contrary ought to have happened。 You would not be here； if she had had
the idea only in her head。〃
Then Monsieur Beauain was seized with rage and turning to his wife； he
said： 〃Do you see to what you have brought us with your poetry？ And now
we shall have to go before the courts at our age； for a breach of morals！
And we shall have to shut up the shop； sell our good will； and go to some
other neighborhood！ That's what it has come to。〃
Madame Beaurain got up； and without looking at her husband； she explained
herself without embarrassment； without useless modesty； and almost
without hesitation。
〃Of course； monsieur； I know that we have made ourselves ridiculous。
Will you allow me to plead my cause like an advocate； or rather like a
poor woman？ And I hope that you will be kind enough to send us home； and
to spare us the disgrace of a prosecution。
〃Years ago； when I was young； I made Monsieur Beaurain's acquaintance one
Sunday in this neighborhood。 He was employed in a draper's shop； and I
was a saleswoman in a ready…made clothing establishment。 I remember it
as if it were yesterday。 I used to come and spend Sundays here
occasionally with a friend of mine； Rose Leveque； with whom I lived in
the Rue Pigalle； and Rose had a sweetheart； while I had none。 He used to
bring us here； and one Saturday he told me laughing that he should bring
a friend with him the next day。 I quite understood what he meant； but I
replied that it would be no good； for I was virtuous； monsieur。
〃The next day we met Monsieur Beaurain at the railway station； and in
those days he was good…looking； but I had made up my mind not to
encourage him； and I did not。 Well； we arrived at Bezons。 It was a
lovely day； the sort of day that touches your heart。 When it is fine
even now； just as it used to be formerly； I grow quite foolish； and when
I am in the country I utterly lose my head。 The green grass； the
swallows flying so swiftly； the smell of the grass； the scarlet poppies；
the daisies； all that makes me crazy。 It is like champagne when one is
not accustomed to it！
〃Well； it was lovely weather； warm and bright； and it seemed to penetrate
your body through your eyes when you looked and through your mouth when
you breathed。 Rose and Simon hugged and kissed each other every minute；
and that gave me a queer feeling！ Monsieur Beaurain and I walked behind
them； without speaking much； for when people do not know each other； they
do not find anything to talk about。 He looked timid； and I liked to see
his embarrassment。 At last we got to the little wood； it was as cool as
in a bath there； and we four sat down。 Rose and her lover teased me
because I looked rather stern； but you will understand that I could not
be otherwise。 And then they began to kiss and hug again； without putting
any more