第32章

Ashehadforeseen，themanwasburiedbeneaththemanure.Anthonyeveneditdownwithhisfork，whichhestuckinthegroundbesideit.

Hecalledhisstableman，toldhimtoputupthehorses，andwenttohisroom.

Hewenttobed，stillthinkingofwhathehadbestdo，butnoideascametohim.Hisapprehensionincreasedinthequietofhisroom.Theywouldshoothim！Hewasbathedinperspirationfromfear，histeethchattered，heroseshivering，notbeingabletostayinbed.

Hewentdownstairstothekitchen，tookthebottleofbrandyfromthesideboardandcarrieditupstairs.Hedranktwolargeglasses，oneafteranother，addingafreshintoxicationtothelateone，withoutquietinghismentalanguish.Hehaddoneaprettystrokeofwork，nomdeDieu，idiot！

Hepacedupanddown，tryingtothinkofsomestratagem，someexplanations，somecunningtrick，andfromtimetotimeherinsedhismouthwithaswallowof"filendix"togivehimcourage.

Butnoideascametohim，notone.

Towardsmidnighthiswatchdog，akindofcrosswolfcalled"Devorant，"

begantohowlfrantically.FatherAnthonyshudderedtothemarrowofhisbones，andeachtimethebeastbeganhislongandlugubriouswailtheoldman’sskinturnedtogooseflesh.

Hehadsunkintoachair，hislegsweak，stupefied，doneup，waitinganxiouslyfor"Devorant"tosetupanotherhowl，andstartingconvulsivelyfromnervousnesscausedbyterror.

Theclockdownstairsstruckfive.Thedogwasstillhowling.Thepeasantwasalmostinsane.Herosetogoandletthedogloose，sothatheshouldnothearhim.Hewentdownstairs，openedthehalldoor，andsteppedoutintothedarkness.Thesnowwasstillfalling.Theearthwasallwhite，thefarmbuildingsstandingoutlikeblackpatches.Heapproachedthekennel.Thedogwasdraggingathischain.Heunfastenedit."Devorant"gaveabound，thenstoppedshort，hishairbristling，hislegsrigid，hismuzzleintheair，hisnosepointedtowardsthemanureheap.

SaintAnthony，tremblingfromheadtofoot，faltered：

"What’sthematterwithyou，youdirtyhound？"andhewalkedafewstepsforward，gazingattheindistinctoutlines，thesombreshadowofthecourtyard.

Thenhesawaform，theformofamansittingonthemanureheap！

Hegazedatit，paralyzedbyfear，andbreathinghard.Butallatoncehesaw，closeby，thehandleofthemanureforkwhichwasstickingintheground.Hesnatcheditupandinoneofthosetransportsoffearthatwillmakethegreatestcowardbraveherushedforwardtoseewhatitwas.

Itwashe，hisPrussian，cometolife，coveredwithfilthfromhisbedofmanurewhichhadkepthimwarm.Hehadsatdownmechanically，andremainedthereinthesnowwhichsprinkleddown，allcoveredwithdirtandbloodashewas，andstillstupidfromdrinking，dazedbytheblowandexhaustedfromhiswound.

HeperceivedAnthony，andtoosoddentounderstandanything，hemadeanattempttorise.Butthemomenttheoldmanrecognizedhim，hefoamedwithragelikeawildanimal.

"Ah，pig！pig！"hesputtered."Youarenotdead！Youaregoingtodenouncemenow——wait——wait！"

AndrushingontheGermanwithallthestrengthofleisarmsheflungtheraisedforklikealanceandburiedthefourprongsfulllengthinhisbreast.

Thesoldierfelloveronhisback，utteringalongdeathmoan，whiletheoldpeasant，drawingtheforkoutofhisbreast，plungeditoverandoveragainintohisabdomen，hisstomach，histhroat，likeamadman，piercingthebodyfromheadtofoot，asitstillquivered，andthebloodgushedoutinstreams.

Finallyhestopped，exhaustedbyhisarduouswork，swallowinggreatmouthfulsofair，calmeddownatthecompletionofthemurder.

Asthecockswerebeginningtocrowinthepoultryyardanditwasneardaybreak，hesettoworktoburytheman.

Hedugaholeinthemanuretillhereachedtheearth，dugdownfurther，workingwildly，inafrenzyofstrengthwithfranticmotionsofhisarmsandbody.

Whenthepitwasdeepenoughherolledthecorpseintoitwiththefork，covereditwithearth，whichhestampeddownforsometime，andthenputbackthemanure，andhesmiledashesawthethicksnowfinishinghisworkandcoveringupitstraceswithawhitesheet.

Hethenstucktheforkinthemanureandwentintothehouse.Hisbottle，stillhalffullofbrandystoodonthetable.Heemptieditatadraught，threwhimselfonhisbedandsleptheavily.

Hewokeupsober，hismindcalmandclear，capableofjudgmentandthought.

Attheendofanhourhewasgoingaboutthecountrymakinginquirieseverywhereforhissoldier.HewenttoseethePrussianofficertofindoutwhytheyhadtakenawayhisman.

Aseveryoneknewwhatgoodfriendstheywere，noonesuspectedhim.Heevendirectedtheresearch，declaringthatthePrussianwenttoseethegirlseveryevening.

Anoldretiredgendarmewhohadaninninthenextvillage，andaprettydaughter，wasarrestedandshot.

LASTINGLOVE

Itwastheendofthedinnerthatopenedtheshootingseason.TheMarquisdeBertranswithhisguestssataroundabrightlylightedtable，coveredwithfruitandflowers.Theconversationdriftedtolove.

Immediatelytherearoseananimateddiscussion，thesameeternaldiscussionastowhetheritwerepossibletolovemorethanonce.

Examplesweregivenofpersonswhohadlovedonce;thesewereoffsetbythosewhohadlovedviolentlymanytimes.Themenagreedthatpassion，likesickness，mayattackthesamepersonseveraltimes，unlessitstrikestokill.Thisconclusionseemedquiteincontestable.Thewomen，however，whobasedtheiropiniononpoetryratherthanonpracticalobservation，maintainedthatlove，thegreatpassion，maycomeonlyoncetomortals.Itresembleslightning，theysaid，thislove.Aheartoncetouchedbyitbecomesforeversuchawaste，soruined，soconsumed，thatnootherstrongsentimentcantakerootthere，notevenadream.Themarquis，whohadindulgedinmanyloveaffairs，disputedthisbelief.

"Itellyouitispossibletoloveseveraltimeswithallone’sheartandsoul.Youquoteexamplesofpersonswhohavekilledthemselvesforlove，toprovetheimpossibilityofasecondpassion.Iwagerthatiftheyhadnotfoolishlycommittedsuicide，andsodestroyedthepossibilityofasecondexperience，theywouldhavefoundanewlove，andstillanother，andsoontilldeath.Itiswithloveaswithdrink.Hewhohasonceindulgedisforeveraslave.Itisathingoftemperament."

Theychosetheolddoctorasumpire.Hethoughtitwasasthemarquishadsaid，athingoftemperament.

"Asforme，"hesaid，"Ionceknewofalovewhichlastedfifty—fiveyearswithoutoneday’srespite，andwhichendedonlywithdeath."Thewifeofthemarquisclaspedherhands.

"Thatisbeautiful！Ah，whatadreamtobelovedinsuchaway！Whatblisstoliveforfifty—fiveyearsenvelopedinanintense，unwaveringaffection！Howthishappybeingmusthaveblessedhislifetobesoadored！"

Thedoctorsmiled.

"Youarenotmistaken，madame，onthispointthelovedonewasaman.

Youevenknowhim;itisMonsieurChouquet，thechemist.Astothewoman，youalsoknowher，theoldchair—mender，whocameeveryyeartothechateau."Theenthusiasmofthewomenfell.Someexpressedtheircontemptwith"Pouah！"forthelovesofcommonpeopledidnotinterestthem.Thedoctorcontinued："ThreemonthsagoIwascalledtothedeathbedoftheoldchair—mender.Thepriesthadprecededme.Shewishedtomakeustheexecutorsofherwill.Inorderthatwemightunderstandherconduct，shetoldusthestoryofherlife.Itismostsingularandtouching：Herfatherandmotherwerebothchair—menders.

Shehadneverlivedinahouse.Asalittlechildshewanderedaboutwiththem，dirty，unkempt，hungry.Theyvisitedmanytowns，leavingtheirhorse，wagonanddogjustoutsidethelimits，wherethechildplayedinthegrassaloneuntilherparentshadrepairedallthebrokenchairsintheplace.Theyseldomspoke，excepttocry，’Chairs！Chairs！

Chair—mender！’

"Whenthelittleonestrayedtoofaraway，shewouldbecalledbackbytheharsh，angryvoiceofherfather.Sheneverheardawordofaffection.Whenshegrewolder，shefetchedandcarriedthebrokenchairs.Thenitwasshemadefriendswiththechildreninthestreet，buttheirparentsalwayscalledthemawayandscoldedthemforspeakingtothebarefootedchild.Oftentheboysthrewstonesather.Onceakindwomangaveherafewpennies.Shesavedthemmostcarefully.

"Oneday——shewasthenelevenyearsold——asshewaswalkingthroughacountrytownshemet，behindthecemetery，littleChouquet，weepingbitterly，becauseoneofhisplaymateshadstolentwopreciousliards（mills）.Thetearsofthesmallbourgeois，oneofthosemuch—enviedmortals，who，sheimagined，neverknewtrouble，completelyupsether.

Sheapproachedhimand，assoonasshelearnedthecauseofhisgrief，sheputintohishandsallhersavings.Hetookthemwithouthesitationanddriedhiseyes.Wildwithjoy，shekissedhim.Hewasbusycountinghismoney，anddidnotobject.Seeingthatshewasnotrepulsed，shethrewherarmsroundhimandgavehimahug——thensheranaway.

"Whatwasgoingoninherpoorlittlehead？Wasitbecauseshehadsacrificedallherfortunethatshebecamemadlyfondofthisyoungster，orwasitbecauseshehadgivenhimthefirsttenderkiss？Themysteryisalikeforchildrenandforthoseofriperyears.Formonthsshedreamedofthatcornernearthecemeteryandofthelittlechap.

Shestoleasouhereand，therefromherparentsonthechairmoneyorgroceriesshewassenttobuy.Whenshereturnedtothespotnearthecemeteryshehadtwofrancsinherpocket，buthewasnotthere.Passinghisfather’sdrugstore，shecaughtsightofhimbehindthecounter.

Hewassittingbetweenalargeredglobeandablueone.Sheonlylovedhimthemore，quitecarriedawayatthesightofthebrilliant—coloredglobes.Shecherishedtherecollectionofitforeverinherheart.

Thefollowingyearshemethimneartheschool.playingmarbles.

Sherusheduptohim，threwherarmsroundhim，andkissedhimsopassionatelythathescreamed，infear.Toquiethim，shegavehimallhermoney.Threefrancsandtwentycentimes！Arealgoldmine，atwhichhegazedwithstaringeyes.

"Afterthisheallowedhertokisshimasmuchasshewished.Duringthenextfouryearssheputintohishandsallhersavings，whichhepocketedconscientiouslyinexchangeforkisses.Atonetimeitwasthirtysons，atanothertwofrancs.Again，sheonlyhadtwelvesous.Sheweptwithgriefandshame，explainingbrokenlythatithadbeenapooryear.Thenexttimeshebroughtfivefrancs，inonewholepiece，whichmadeherlaughwithjoy.Shenolongerthoughtofanyonebuttheboy，andhewatchedforherwithimpatience;sometimeshewouldruntomeether.

Thismadeherheartthumpwithjoy.Suddenlyhedisappeared.Hehadgonetoboardingschool.Shefoundthisoutbycarefulinvestigation.

Thensheusedgreatdiplomacytopersuadeherparentstochangetheirrouteandpassbythiswayagainduringvacation.Afterayearofschemingshesucceeded.Shehadnotseenhimfortwoyears，andscarcelyrecognizedhim，hewassochanged，hadgrowntaller，betterlookingandwasimposinginhisuniform，withitsbrassbuttons.Hepretendednottoseeher，andpassedbywithoutaglance.Sheweptfortwodaysandfromthattimelovedandsufferedunceasingly.

"Everyyearhecamehomeandshepassedhim，notdaringtolifthereyes.

Henevercondescendedtoturnhisheadtowardher.Shelovedhimmadly，hopelessly.Shesaidtome：

"’HeistheonlymanwhomIhaveeverseen.Idon’tevenknowifanotherexists.’Herparentsdied.Shecontinuedtheirwork.

"Oneday，onenteringthevillage，whereherheartalwaysremained，shesawChouquetcomingoutofhispharmacywithayoungladyleaningonhisarm.Shewashiswife.Thatnightthechairmenderthrewherselfintotheriver.Adrunkardpassingthespotpulledheroutandtookhertothedrugstore.YoungChouquetcamedowninhisdressinggowntoreviveher.Withoutseemingtoknowwhoshewasheundressedherandrubbedher;thenhesaidtoher，inaharshvoice：

"’Youaremad！Peoplemustnotdostupidthingslikethat.’Hisvoicebroughthertolifeagain.Hehadspokentoher！Shewashappyforalongtime.Herefusedremunerationforhistrouble，althoughsheinsisted.

"Allherlifepassedinthisway.Sheworked，thinkingalwaysofhim.

Shebegantobuymedicinesathispharmacy;thisgaveherachancetotalktohimandtoseehimclosely.Inthisway，shewasstillabletogivehimmoney.

"AsIsaidbefore，shediedthisspring.Whenshehadclosedherpatheticstorysheentreatedmetotakeherearningstothemansheloved.Shehadworkedonlythatshemightleavehimsomethingtoremindhimofherafterherdeath.Igavethepriestfiftyfrancsforherfuneralexpenses.ThenextmorningIwenttoseetheChouquets.Theywerefinishingbreakfast，sittingoppositeeachother，fatandred，importantandself—satisfied.Theywelcomedmeandofferedmesomecoffee，whichIaccepted.ThenIbeganmystoryinatremblingvoice，surethattheywouldbesoftened，eventotears.AssoonasChouquetunderstoodthathehadbeenlovedby’thatvagabond！thatchair—mender！

thatwanderer！’hesworewithindignationasthoughhisreputationhadbeensullied，therespectofdecentpeoplelost，hispersonalhonor，somethingpreciousanddearertohimthanlife，gone.Hisexasperatedwifekeptrepeating：’Thatbeggar！Thatbeggar！’

"Seemingunabletofindwordssuitabletotheenormity，hestoodupandbeganstridingabout.Hemuttered：’Canyouunderstandanythingsohorrible，doctor？Oh，ifIhadonlyknownitwhileshewasalive，I

shouldhavehadherthrownintoprison.Ipromiseyoushewouldnothaveescaped.’

"Iwasdumfounded;Ihardlyknewwhattothinkorsay，butIhadtofinishmymission.’Shecommissionedme，’Isaid，’togiveyouhersavings，whichamounttothreethousandfivehundredfrancs.AswhatI

havejusttoldyouseemstobeverydisagreeable，perhapsyouwouldprefertogivethismoneytothepoor.’

"Theylookedatme，thatmanandwoman，’speechlesswithamazement.

Itookthefewthousandfrancsfromoutofmypocket.Wretched—lookingmoneyfromeverycountry.Penniesandgoldpiecesallmixedtogether.

ThenIasked：

"’Whatisyourdecision？’

"MadameChouquetspokefirst.’Well，sinceitisthedyingwoman’swish，itseemstomeimpossibletorefuseit.’

"Herhusbandsaid，inashamefacedmanner：’Wecouldbuysomethingforourchildrenwithit.’

"Ianswereddryly：’Asyouwish.’

"Hereplied：’Well，giveittousanyhow，sinceshecommissionedyoutodoso;wewillfindawaytoputittosomegoodpurpose.’

"Igavethemthemoney，bowedandleft.

"ThenextdayChouquetcametomeandsaidbrusquely：

"’Thatwomanleftherwagonhere——whathaveyoudonewithit？’

"’Nothing;takeitifyouwish.’

"’It’sjustwhatIwanted，’headded，andwalkedoff.Icalledhimbackandsaid：

"’Shealsoleftheroldhorseandtwodogs.Don’tyouneedthem？’

"Hestaredatmesurprised：’Well，no！Really，whatwouldIdowiththem？’

"’Disposeofthemasyoulike.’

"Helaughedandheldouthishandtome.Ishookit.WhatcouldIdo？

Thedoctorandthedruggistinacountryvillagemustnotbeatenmity.

Ihavekeptthedogs.Thepriesttooktheoldhorse.ThewagonisusefultoChouquet，andwiththemoneyhehasboughtrailroadstock.

Thatistheonlydeep，sincerelovethatIhaveeverknowninallmylife."

Thedoctorlookedup.Themarquise，whoseeyeswerefulloftears，sighedandsaid：

"Thereisnodenyingthefact，onlywomenknowhowtolove."

PIERROT

Mme.Lefevrewasacountrydame，awidow，oneofthesehalfpeasants，withribbonsandbonnetswithtrimmingonthem，oneofthosepersonswhoclippedherwordsandputongreatairsinpublic，concealingthesoulofapretentiousanimalbeneathacomicalandbedizenedexterior，justasthecountry—folkshidetheircoarseredhandsinecrusilkgloves.

Shehadaservant，agoodsimplepeasant，calledRose.

ThetwowomenlivedinalittlehousewithgreenshuttersbythesideofthehighroadinNormandy，inthecentreofthecountryofCaux.Astheyhadanarrowstripofgardeninfrontofthehouse，theygrewsomevegetables.

Onenightsomeonestoletwelveonions.AssoonasRosebecameawareofthetheft，sherantotellmadame，whocamedownstairsinherwoolenpetticoat.Itwasashameandadisgrace！Theyhadrobbedher，Mme.

Lefevre！Astherewerethievesinthecountry，theymightcomeback.

Andthetwofrightenedwomenexaminedthefoottracks，talking，andsupposingallsortsofthings.

"See，theywentthatway！Theysteppedonthewall，theyjumpedintothegarden！"

Andtheybecameapprehensiveforthefuture.Howcouldtheysleepinpeacenow！

Thenewsofthetheftspread.Theneighborcame，makingexaminationsanddiscussingthematterintheirturn，whilethetwowomenexplainedtoeachnewcomerwhattheyhadobservedandtheiropinion.

Afarmerwholivednearsaidtothem：

"Yououghttohaveadog."

Thatistrue，theyoughttohaveadog，ifitwereonlytogivethealarm.Notabigdog.Heavens！whatwouldtheydowithabigdog？Hewouldeattheirheadsoff.Butalittledog（inNormandytheysay"quin"），alittlepuppywhowouldbark.

Assoonaseveryonehadleft，Mme.Lefevrediscussedthisideaofadogforsometime.Onreflectionshemadeathousandobjections，terrifiedattheideaofabowlfullofsoup，forshebelongedtothatraceofparsimoniouscountrywomenwhoalwayscarrycentimesintheirpockettogivealmsinpublictobeggarsontheroadandtoputintheSundaycollectionplate.

Rose，wholovedanimals，gaveheropinionanddefendeditshrewdly.Soitwasdecidedthattheyshouldhaveadog，averysmalldog.

Theybegantolookforone，butcouldfindnothingbutbigdogs，whowoulddevourenoughsouptomakeoneshudder.ThegrocerofRollevillehadone，atinyone，buthedemandedtwofrancstocoverthecostofsendingit.Mme.Lefevredeclaredthatshewouldfeeda"quin，"butwouldnotbuyone.

Thebaker，whoknewallthatoccurred，broughtinhiswagononemorningastrangelittleyellowanimal，almostwithoutpaws，withthebodyofacrocodile，theheadofafox，andacurlytail——atruecockade，asbigasalltherestofhim.Mme.Lefevrethoughtthiscommoncurthatcostnothingwasveryhandsome.Rosehuggeditandaskedwhatitsnamewas.

"Pierrot，"repliedthebaker.

Thedogwasinstalledinanoldsoapboxandtheygaveitsomewaterwhichitdrank.Theythenoffereditapieceofbread.Heateit.Mme.

Lefevre，uneasy，hadanidea.

"Whenheisthoroughlyaccustomedtothehousewecanlethimrun.Hecanfindsomethingtoeat，roamingaboutthecountry."

Theylethimrun，infact，whichdidnotpreventhimfrombeingfamished.

Alsoheneverbarkedexcepttobegforfood，andthenhebarkedfuriously.

Anyonemightcomeintothegarden，andPierrotwouldrunupandfawnoneachoneinturnandnotutterabark.

Mme.Lefevre，however，hadbecomeaccustomedtotheanimal.Sheevenwentsofarastolikeitandtogiveitfromtimetotimepiecesofbreadsoakedinthegravyonherplate.

Butshehadnotoncethoughtofthedogtax，andwhentheycametocollecteightfrancs——eightfrancs，madame——forthispuppywhoneverevenbarked，shealmostfaintedfromtheshock.

ItwasimmediatelydecidedthattheymustgetridofPierrot.Noonewantedhim.Everyonedeclinedtotakehimfortenleaguesaround.Thentheyresolved，notknowingwhatelsetodo，tomakehim"piquerdumas."

"Piquerdumas"meanstoeatchalk.Whenonewantstogetridofadogtheymakehim"Piquerdumas."

Inthemidstofanimmenseplainoneseesakindofhut，orratheraverysmallroofstandingabovetheground.Thisistheentrancetotheclaypit.Abigperpendicularholeissunkfortwentymetresundergroundandendsinaseriesoflongsubterraneantunnels.

Onceayeartheygodownintothequarryatthetimetheyfertilizetheground.Therestoftheyearitservesasacemeteryforcondemneddogs，andasonepassedbythisholeplaintivehowls，furiousordespairingbarksandlamentableappealsreachone’sear.

Sportsmen’sdogsandsheepdogsfleeinterrorfromthismournfulplace，andwhenoneleansoveritoneperceivesadisgustingodorofputrefaction.

Frightfuldramasareenactedinthedarkness.

Whenananimalhassuffereddowntherefortenortwelvedays，nourishedonthefoulremainsofhispredecessors，anotheranimal，largerandmorevigorous，isthrownintothehole.Theretheyare，alone，starving，withglitteringeyes.Theywatcheachother，followeachother，hesitateindoubt.Buthungerimpelsthem;theyattackeachother，fightdesperatelyforsometime，andthestrongereatstheweaker，devourshimalive.

WhenitwasdecidedtomakePierrot"piquerdumas"theylookedroundforanexecutioner.Thelaborerwhomendedtheroaddemandedsixsoustotakethedogthere.ThatseemedwildlyexorbitanttoMme.Lefevre.Theneighbor’shiredboywantedfivesous;thatwasstilltoomuch.SoRosehavingobservedthattheyhadbettercarryittherethemselves，asinthatwayitwouldnotbebrutallytreatedonthewayandmadetosuspectitsfate，theyresolvedtogotogetherattwilight.

Theyofferedthedogthateveningagooddishofsoupwithapieceofbutterinit.Heswallowedeverymorselofit，andashewaggedhistailwithdelightRoseputhiminherapron.

Theywalkedquickly，likethieves，acrosstheplain.Theysoonperceivedthechalkpitandwalkeduptoit.Mme.Lefevreleanedovertohearifanyanimalwasmoaning.No，therewerenonethere;Pierrotwouldbealone.ThenRose，whowascrying，kissedthedogandthrewhimintothechalkpit，andtheybothleanedover，listening.

Firsttheyheardadullsound，thenthesharp，bitter，distractingcryofananimalinpain，thenasuccessionoflittlemournfulcries，thendespairingappeals，thecriesofadogwhoisentreating，hisheadraisedtowardtheopeningofthepit.

Heyelped，oh，howheyelped！

Theywerefilledwithremorse，withterror，withawildinexplicablefear，andranawayfromthespot.AsRosewentfasterMme.Lefevrecried："Waitforme，Rose，waitforme！"

Atnighttheywerehauntedbyfrightfulnightmares.

Mme.Lefevredreamedshewassittingdownattabletoeathersoup，butwhensheuncoveredthetureenPierrotwasinit.Hejumpedoutandbithernose.

Sheawokeandthoughtsheheardhimyelpingstill.Shelistened，butshewasmistaken.

Shefellasleepagainandfoundherselfonahighroad，anendlessroad，whichshefollowed.Suddenlyinthemiddleoftheroadsheperceivedabasket，alargefarmer’sbasket，lyingthere，andthisbasketfrightenedher.

Sheendedbyopeningit，andPierrot，concealedinit，seizedherhandandwouldnotletgo.Sheranawayinterrorwiththedoghangingtotheendofherarm，whichheheldbetweenhisteeth.

Atdaybreakshearose，almostbesideherself，andrantothechalkpit.

Hewasyelping，yelpingstill;hehadyelpedallnight.Shebegantosobandcalledhimbyallsortsofendearingnames.Heansweredherwithallthetenderinflectionsofhisdog’svoice.

Thenshewantedtoseehimagain，promisingherselfthatshewouldgivehimagoodhometillhedied.

Sherantothechalkdigger，whosebusinessitwastoexcavateforchalk，andtoldhimthesituation.Themanlistened，butsaidnothing.Whenshehadfinishedhesaid：

"Youwantyourdog？Thatwillcostfourfrancs."Shegaveajump.Allhergriefwasatanendatonce.

"Fourfrancs！"shesaid."Youwoulddieofit！Fourfrancs！"

"DoyousupposeIamgoingtobringmyropes，mywindlass，andsetitup，andgodowntherewithmyboyandletmyselfbebitten，perhaps，byyourcurseddogforthepleasureofgivingitbacktoyou？Youshouldnothavethrownitdownthere."

Shewalkedaway，indignant.Fourfrancs！

AssoonassheenteredthehouseshecalledRoseandtoldherofthequarryman’scharges.Rose，alwaysresigned，repeated：

"Fourfrancs！Thatisagooddealofmoney，madame."Thensheadded：

"Ifwecouldthrowhimsomethingtoeat，thepoordog，sohewillnotdieofhunger."

Mme.Lefevreapprovedofthisandwasquitedelighted.Sotheysetoutagainwithabigpieceofbreadandbutter.

Theycutitinmouthfuls，whichtheythrewdownoneaftertheother，speakingbyturnstoPierrot.Assoonasthedogfinishedonepieceheyelpedforthenext.

Theyreturnedthateveningandthenextdayandeveryday.Buttheymadeonlyonetrip.

O