第27章

’Onecanlodgehereto-night，madame？’

’Perfectly!’saidthelandladyinahigh，sing-song，cheeryvoice。

’Good。Onecandine——sup——whatyoupleasetocallit？’

’Ah，perfectly!’criedthelandladyasbefore。

’Dispatchthen，madame，ifyouplease。Somethingtoeat，asquicklyasyoucan；andsomewineatonce。Iamexhausted。’

’Itisverybadweather，monsieur，’saidthelandlady。

’Cursedweather。’

’Andaverylongroad。’

’Acursedroad。’

Hishoarsevoicefailedhim，andherestedhisheaduponhishandsuntilabottleofwinewasbroughtfromthecounter。Havingfilledandemptiedhislittletumblertwice，andhavingbrokenoffanendfromthegreatloafthatwassetbeforehimwithhisclothandnapkin，soup-plate，salt，pepper，andoil，herestedhisbackagainstthecornerofthewall，madeacouchofthebenchonwhichhesat，andbegantochewcrust，untilsuchtimeashisrepastshouldbeready。

Therehadbeenthatmomentaryinterruptionofthetalkaboutthestove，andthattemporaryinattentiontoanddistractionfromoneanother，whichisusuallyinseparableinsuchacompanyfromthearrivalofastranger。Ithadpassedoverbythistime；andthemenhaddoneglancingathim，andweretalkingagain。

’That’sthetruereason，’saidoneofthem，bringingastoryhehadbeentelling，toaclose，’that’sthetruereasonwhytheysaidthatthedevilwasletloose。’ThespeakerwasthetallSwissbelongingtothechurch，andhebroughtsomethingoftheauthorityofthechurchintothediscussion——especiallyasthedevilwasinquestion。

Thelandladyhavinggivenherdirectionsforthenewguest’sentertainmenttoherhusband，whoactedascooktotheBreakofDay，hadresumedherneedleworkbehindhercounter。Shewasasmart，neat，brightlittlewoman，withagooddealofcapandagooddealofstocking，andshestruckintotheconversationwithseverallaughingnodsofherhead，butwithoutlookingupfromherwork。

’AhHeaven，then，’saidshe。’WhentheboatcameupfromLyons，andbroughtthenewsthatthedevilwasactuallyletlooseatMarseilles，somefly-catchersswallowedit。ButI？No，notI。’

’Madame，youarealwaysright，’returnedthetallSwiss。

’Doubtlessyouwereenragedagainstthatman，madame？’

’Ay，yes，then!’criedthelandlady，raisinghereyesfromherwork，openingthemverywide，andtossingherheadononeside。

’Naturally，yes。’

’Hewasabadsubject。’

’Hewasawickedwretch，’saidthelandlady，’andwellmeritedwhathehadthegoodfortunetoescape。Somuchtheworse。’

’Stay，madame!Letussee，’returnedtheSwiss，argumentativelyturninghiscigarbetweenhislips。’Itmayhavebeenhisunfortunatedestiny。Hemayhavebeenthechildofcircumstances。

Itisalwayspossiblethathehad，andhas，goodinhimifonedidbutknowhowtofinditout。Philosophicalphilanthropyteaches——’

Therestofthelittleknotaboutthestovemurmuredanobjectiontotheintroductionofthatthreateningexpression。Eventhetwoplayersatdominoesglancedupfromtheirgame，asiftoprotestagainstphilosophicalphilanthropybeingbroughtbynameintotheBreakofDay。

’Holdthere，youandyourphilanthropy，’criedthesmilinglandlady，noddingherheadmorethanever。’Listenthen。Iamawoman，I。Iknownothingofphilosophicalphilanthropy。ButI

knowwhatIhaveseen，andwhatIhavelookedinthefaceinthisworldhere，whereIfindmyself。AndItellyouthis，myfriend，thattherearepeople(menandwomenboth，unfortunately)whohavenogoodinthem——none。Thattherearepeoplewhomitisnecessarytodetestwithoutcompro