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'Cafe Francais' closed with a big placard on the shutters。 Change
my billiard…table！〃 she went on； speaking to herself； 〃the table
that comes in so handy for folding the washing； and on which； in
the hunting season； I have slept six visitors！ But that dawdler；
Hivert； doesn't come！〃
〃Are you waiting for him for your gentlemen's dinner？〃
〃Wait for him！ And what about Monsieur Binet？ As the clock
strikes six you'll see him come in； for he hasn't his equal under
the sun for punctuality。 He must always have his seat in the
small parlour。 He'd rather die than dine anywhere else。 And so
squeamish as he is； and so particular about the cider！ Not like
Monsieur Leon； he sometimes comes at seven； or even half…past；
and he doesn't so much as look at what he eats。 Such a nice young
man！ Never speaks a rough word！〃
〃Well； you see； there's a great difference between an educated
man and an old carabineer who is now a tax…collector。〃
Six o'clock struck。 Binet came in。
He wore a blue frock…coat falling in a straight line round his
thin body； and his leather cap； with its lappets knotted over the
top of his head with string； showed under the turned…up peak a
bald forehead； flattened by the constant wearing of a helmet。 He
wore a black cloth waistcoat； a hair collar； grey trousers； and；
all the year round； well…blacked boots； that had two parallel
swellings due to the sticking out of his big…toes。 Not a hair
stood out from the regular line of fair whiskers； which；
encircling his jaws； framed； after the fashion of a garden
border； his long； wan face； whose eyes were small and the nose
hooked。 Clever at all games of cards； a good hunter； and writing
a fine hand； he had at home a lathe； and amused himself by
turning napkin rings； with which he filled up his house； with the
jealousy of an artist and the egotism of a bourgeois。
He went to the small parlour； but the three millers had to be got
out first； and during the whole time necessary for laying the
cloth； Binet remained silent in his place near the stove。 Then he
shut the door and took off his cap in his usual way。
〃It isn't with saying civil things that he'll wear out his
tongue；〃 said the chemist； as soon as he was along with the
landlady。
〃He never talks more；〃 she replied。 〃Last week two travelers in
the cloth line were heresuch clever chaps who told such jokes
in the evening； that I fairly cried with laughing； and he stood
there like a dab fish and never said a word。〃
〃Yes；〃 observed the chemist； 〃no imagination； no sallies； nothing
that makes the society…man。〃
〃Yet they say he has parts；〃 objected the landlady。
〃Parts！〃 replied Monsieur Homais； 〃he； parts！ In his own line it
is possible；〃 he added in a calmer tone。 And he went on
〃Ah！ That a merchant； who has large connections； a jurisconsult；
a doctor； a chemist； should be thus absent…minded； that the
should become whimsical or even peevish； I can understand； such
cases are cited in history。 But at least it is because they are
thinking of something。 Myself； for example； how often has it
happened to me to look on the bureau for my pen to write a label；
and to find； after all； that I had put it behind my ear！〃
Madame Lefrancois just then went to the door to see if the
〃Hirondelle〃 were not coming。 She started。 A man dressed in black
suddenly came into the kitchen。 By the last gleam of the twilight
one could see that his face was rubicund and his form athletic。
〃What can I do for you； Monsieur le Curie？〃 asked the landlady；
as she reached down from the chimney one of the copper
candlesticks placed with their candles in a row。 〃Will you take
something？ A thimbleful of Cassis*？ A glass of wine？〃
*Black currant liqueur。
The priest declined very politely。 He had come for his umbrella；
that he had forgotten the other day at the Ernemont convent； and
after asking Madame Lefrancois to have it sent to him at the
presbytery in the evening； he left for the church； from which the
Angelus was ringing。
When the chemist no longer heard the noise of his boots along the
square； he thought the priest's behaviour just now very
unbecoming。 This refusal to take any refreshment seemed to him
the most odious hypocrisy； all priests tippled on the sly； and
were trying to bring back the days of the tithe。
The landlady took up the defence of her curie。
〃Besides； he could double up four men like you over his knee。
Last year he helped our people to bring in the straw； he carried
as many as six trusses at once； he is so strong。〃
〃Bravo！〃 said the chemist。 〃Now just send your daughters to
confess to fellows which such a temperament！ I； if I were the
Government； I'd have the priests bled once a month。 Yes； Madame
Lefrancois； every montha good phlebotomy； in the interests of
the police and morals。〃
〃Be quiet； Monsieur Homais。 You are an infidel； you've no
religion。〃
The chemist answered： 〃I have a religion； my religion； and I even
have more than all these others with their mummeries and their
juggling。 I adore God； on the contrary。 I believe in the Supreme
Being； in a Creator； whatever he may be。 I care little who has
placed us here below to fulfil our duties as citizens and fathers
of families； but I don't need to go to church to kiss silver
plates； and fatten； out of my pocket； a lot of good…for…nothings
who live better than we do。 For one can know Him as well in a
wood； in a field； or even contemplating the eternal vault like
the ancients。 My God！ Mine is the God of Socrates； of Franklin；
of Voltaire； and of Beranger！ I am for the profession of faith of
the 'Savoyard Vicar；' and the immortal principles of '89！ And I
can't admit of an old boy of a God who takes walks in his garden
with a cane in his hand； who lodges his friends in the belly of
whales； dies uttering a cry； and rises again at the end of three
days； things absurd in themselves； and completely opposed；
moreover； to all physical laws； which prove to us； by the way；
that priests have always wallowed in turpid ignorance； in which
they would fain engulf the people with them。〃
He ceased； looking round for an audience； for in his bubbling
over the chemist had for a moment fancied himself in the midst of
the town council。 But the landlady no longer heeded him； she was
listening to a distant rolling。 One could distinguish the noise
of a carriage mingled with the clattering of loose horseshoes
that beat against the ground； and at last the 〃Hirondelle〃
stopped at the door。
It was a yellow box on two large wheels； that； reaching to the
tilt； prevented travelers from seeing the road and dirtied their
shoulders。 The small panes of the narrow windows rattled in their
sashes when the coach was closed； and retained here and there
patches of mud amid the old layers of dust； that not even storms
of rain had altogether washed away。 It was drawn by three horses；
the first a leader； and when it came down…hill its bottom jolted
against the ground。
Some of the inhabitants of Yonville came out into the square；
they all spoke at once； asking for news； for explanations； for
hampers。 Hivert did not know whom to answer。 It was he who did
the errands of the place in town。 He went to the shops and
brought back rolls of le