第36章

Insidethereareruinedhalls，crumblingstairways，unknowncavities，dungeons，wallscutthroughinthemiddle，vaultedroofshelduponeknowsnothow，andamassofstonesandcrevices，overgrownwithgrass，whereanimalsglideinandout.

Iwasexploringthisruinalone.

SuddenlyIperceivedbehindabitofwallabeing，akindofphantom，likethespiritofthisancientandcrumblinghabitation.

Iwastakenabackwithsurprise，almostwithfear，whenIrecognizedtheoldladywhomIhadseentwice.

Shewasweeping，withbigtearsinhereyes，andheldherhandkerchiefinherhand.

Iturnedaroundtogoaway，whenshespoketome，apparentlyashamedtohavebeensurprisedinhergrief.

"Yes，monsieur，Iamcrying.Thatdoesnothappenoftentome."

"Pardonme，madame，forhavingdisturbedyou，"Istammered，confused，notknowingwhattosay."Somemisfortunehasdoubtlesscometoyou."

"Yes.No——Iamlikealostdog，"shemurmured，andbegantosob，withherhandkerchiefoverhereyes.

Movedbythesecontagioustears，Itookherhand，tryingtocalmher.

Thenbrusquelyshetoldmeherhistory，asifnolongerablytobearhergriefalone.

"Oh！Oh！Monsieur——ifyouknew——thesorrowinwhichIlive——inwhatsorrow.

"OnceIwashappy.Ihaveahousedownthere——ahome.Icannotgobacktoitanymore;Ishallnevergobacktoitagain，itistoohardtobear.

"Ihaveason.Itishe！itishe！Childrendon’tknow.Oh，onehassuchashorttimetolive！IfIshouldseehimnowIshouldperhapsnotrecognizehim.HowIlovedhim？HowIlovedhim！Evenbeforehewasborn，whenIfelthimmove.Andafterthat！HowIhavekissedandcaressedandcherishedhim！IfyouknewhowmanynightsIhavepassedinwatchinghimsleep，andhowmanyinthinkingofhim.Iwascrazyabouthim.Whenhewaseightyearsoldhisfathersenthimtoboarding—school.

Thatwastheend.Henolongerbelongedtome.Oh，heavens！HecametoseemeeverySunday.Thatwasall！

"HewenttocollegeinParis.Thenhecameonlyfourtimesayear，andeverytimeIwasastonishedtoseehowhehadchanged，tofindhimtallerwithouthavingseenhimgrow.Theystolehischildhoodfromme，hisconfidence，andhislovewhichotherwisewouldnothavegoneawayfromme;theystolemyjoyinseeinghimgrow，inseeinghimbecomealittleman.

"Isawhimfourtimesayear.Thinkofit！Andateveryoneofhisvisitshisbody，hiseye，hismovements，hisvoicehislaugh，werenolongerthesame，werenolongermine.Allthesethingschangesoquicklyinachild;anditissosadifoneisnottheretoseethemchange;onenolongerrecognizeshim.

"Oneyearhecamewithdownonhischeek！He！myson！Iwasdumfounded——wouldyoubelieveit？Ihardlydaredtokisshim.Wasitreallyhe，mylittle，littlecurlyheadofold，mydear;dearchild，whomIhadheldinhisdiapersormyknee，andwhohadnursedatmybreastwithhislittlegreedylips——wasithe，thistall，brownboy，whonolongerknewhowtokissme，whoseemedtolovemeasamatterofduty，whocalledme’mother’forthesakeofpoliteness，andwhokissedmeontheforehead，whenIfeltlikecrushinghiminmyarms？

"Myhusbanddied.Thenmyparents，andthenmytwosisters.WhenDeathentersahouseitseemsasifhewerehurryingtodohisutmost，soasnottohavetoreturnforalongtimeafterthat.Hesparesonlyoneortwotomourntheothers.

"Iremainedalone.Mytallsonwasthenstudyinglaw.Iwashopingtoliveanddienearhim，andIwenttohimsothatwecouldlivetogether.

Buthehadfallenintothewaysofyoungmen，andhegavemetounderstandthatIwasinhisway.SoIleft.Iwaswrongindoingso，butIsufferedtoomuchinfeelingmyselfinhisway，I，hismother！AndIcamebackhome.

"Ihardlyeversawhimagain.

’Hemarried.Whatajoy！Atlastweshouldbetogetherforgood.

Ishouldhavegrandchildren.HiswifewasanEnglishwoman，whotookadisliketome.Why？PerhapsshethoughtthatIlovedhimtoomuch.

"AgainIwasobligedtogoaway.AndIwasalone.Yes，monsieur.

"ThenhewenttoEngland，tolivewiththem，withhiswife’sparents.

Doyouunderstand？Theyhavehim——theyhavemysonforthemselves.

Theyhavestolenhimfromme.Hewritestomeonceamonth.Atfirsthecametoseeme.Butnowhenolongercomes.

"ItisnowfouryearssinceIsawhimlast.Hisfacethenwaswrinkledandhishairwhite.Wasthatpossible？Thisman，myson，almostanoldman？Mylittlerosychildofold？NodoubtIshallneverseehimagain.

"AndsoItravelaboutalltheyear.Igoeastandwest，asyousee，withnocompanion.

"Iamlikealostdog.Adieu，monsieur！don’tstayherewithmeforithurtsmetohavetoldyouallthis."

Iwentdownthehill，andonturningroundtoglanceback，Isawtheoldwomanstandingonabrokenwall，lookingoutuponthemountains，thelongvalleyandLakeChamboninthedistance.

Andherskirtandthequeerlittleshawlwhichsheworearoundherthinshoulderswereflutteringtikeaflaginthewind.

MADEMOISELLECOCOTTE

WewerejustleavingtheasylumwhenIsawatall，thinmaninacornerofthecourtwhokeptoncallinganimaginarydog.Hewascryinginasoft，tendervoice："Cocotte！Comehere，Cocotte，mybeauty！"andslappinghisthighasonedoeswhencallingananimal.Iaskedthephysician，"Whoisthatman？"Heanswered："Oh！heisnotatallinteresting.HeisacoachmannamedFrancois，whobecameinsaneafterdrowninghisdog."

Iinsisted："Tellmehisstory.Themostsimpleandhumblethingsaresometimesthosewhichtouchourheartsmostdeeply."

Hereisthisman’sadventure，whichwasobtainedfromafriendofhis，agroom：

TherewasafamilyofrichbourgeoiswholivedinasuburbofParis.

Theyhadavillainthemiddleofapark，attheedgeoftheSeine.

TheircoachmanwasthisFrancois，acountryfellow，somewhatdull，kind—

hearted，simpleandeasytodeceive.

Oneevening，ashewasreturninghome，adogbegantofollowhim.Atfirsthepaidnoattentiontoit，butthecreature’sobstinacyatlastmadehimturnround.Helookedtoseeifheknewthisdog.No，hehadneverseenit.Itwasafemaledogandfrightfullythin.Shewastrottingbehindhimwithamournfulandfamishedlook，hertailbetweenherlegs，herearsflattenedagainstherheadandstoppingandstartingwheneverhedid.

Hetriedtochasethisskeletonawayandcried：

"Runalong！Getout！Kss！kss！"Sheretreatedafewsteps，thensatdownandwaited.Andwhenthecoachmanstartedtowalkagainshefollowedalongbehindhim.

Hepretendedtopickupsomestones.Theanimalranalittlefartheraway，butcamebackagainassoonastheman’sbackwasturned.

ThenthecoachmanFrancoistookpityonthebeastandcalledher.Thedogapproachedtimidly.Themanpattedherprotrudingribs，movedbythebeast’smisery，andhecried："Come！comehere！"Immediatelyshebegantowaghertail，and，feelingherselftakenin，adopted，shebegantorunalongaheadofhernewmaster.

Hemadeherabedonthestrawinthestable，thenherantothekitchenforsomebread.Whenshehadeatenallshecouldshecurledupandwenttosleep.

Whenhisemployersheardofthisthenextdaytheyallowedthecoachmantokeeptheanimal.Itwasagoodbeast，caressingandfaithful，intelligentandgentle.

NeverthelessFrancoisadoredCocotte，andhekeptrepeating："Thatbeastishuman.Sheonlylacksspeech."

Hehadamagnificentredleathercollarmadeforherwhichborethesewordsengravedonacopperplate："MademoiselleCocotte，belongingtothecoachmanFrancois."

Shewasremarkablyprolificandfourtimesayearwouldgivebirthtoabatchoflittleanimalsbelongingtoeveryvarietyofthecaninerace.

Francoiswouldpickoutonewhichhewouldleaveherandthenhewouldunmercifullythrowtheothersintotheriver.Butsoonthecookjoinedhercomplaintstothoseofthegardener.Shewouldfinddogsunderthestove，intheicebox，inthecoalbin，andtheywouldstealeverythingtheycameacross.

Finallythemaster，tiredofcomplaints，impatientlyorderedFrancoistogetridofCocotte.Indespairthemantriedtogiveheraway.Nobodywantedher.Thenhedecidedtoloseher，andhegavehertoateamster，whowastodropherontheothersideofParis，nearJoinville—le—Pont.

Cocottereturnedthesameday.Somedecisionhadtobetaken.FivefrancswasgiventoatrainconductortotakehertoHavre.Hewastodropherthere.

Threedayslatershereturnedtothestable，thin，footsoreandtiredout.

Themastertookpityonherandletherstay.Butotherdogswereattractedasbefore，andoneevening，whenabigdinnerpartywason，astuffedturkeywascarriedawaybyoneofthemrightunderthecook’snose，andshedidnotdaretostophim.

ThistimethemastercompletelylosthistemperandsaidangrilytoFrancois："Ifyoudon’tthrowthisbeastintothewaterbefore——to—morrowmorning，I’llputyouout，doyouhear？"

Themanwasdumbfounded，andhereturnedtohisroomtopackhistrunk，preferringtoleavetheplace.Thenhebethoughthimselfthathecouldfindnoothersituationaslongashedraggedthisanimalaboutwithhim.

Hethoughtofhisgoodposition，wherehewaswellpaidandwellfed，andhedecidedthatadogwasreallynotworthallthat.AtlasthedecidedtoridhimselfofCocotteatdaybreak.

Hesleptbadly.Heroseatdawn，andtakingastrongrope，wenttogetthedog.Shestoodupslowly，shookherself，stretchedandcametowelcomehermaster.

Thenhiscourageforsookhim，andhebegantopetheraffectionately，strokingherlongears，kissinghermuzzleandcallinghertendernames.

Butaneighboringclockstrucksix.Hecouldnolongerhesitate.

Heopenedthedoor，calling："Come！"Thebeastwaggedhertail，understandingthatshewastobetakenout.

Theyreachedthebeach，andhechoseaplacewherethewaterseemeddeep.

Thenheknottedtheroperoundtheleathercollarandtiedaheavystonetotheotherend.HeseizedCocotteinhisarmsandkissedhermadly，asthoughheweretakingleaveofsomehumanbeing.Heheldhertohisbreast，rockedherandcalledher"mydearlittleCocotte，mysweetlittleCocotte，"andshegruntedwithpleasure.

Tentimeshetriedtothrowherintothewaterandeachtimehelostcourage.

Butsuddenlyhemadeuphismindandthrewherasfarfromhimashecould.Atfirstshetriedtoswim，asshedidwhenhegaveherabath，butherhead，draggeddownbythestone，keptgoingunder，andshelookedathermasterwithwild，humanglancesasshestruggledlikeadrowningperson.Thenthefrontpartofherbodysank，whileherhindlegswavedwildlyoutofthewater.Finallythosealsodisappeared.

Then，forfiveminutes，bubblesrosetothesurfaceasthoughtheriverwereboiling，andFrancois，haggard，hisheartbeating，thoughtthathesawCocottestrugglinginthemud，and，withthesimplicityofapeasant，hekeptsayingtohimself："Whatdoesthepoorbeastthinkofmenow？"

Healmostlosthismind.Hewasillforamonthandeverynighthedreamedofhisdog.Hecouldfeelherlickinghishandsandhearherbarking.Itwasnecessarytocallinaphysician.Atlastherecovered，andtowardthe2ndofJunehisemployerstookhimtotheirestateatBiesard，nearRouen.

ThereagainhewasneartheSeine.Hebegantotakebaths.Eachmorninghewouldgodownwiththegroomandtheywouldswimacrosstheriver.

Oneday，astheyweredisportingthemselvesinthewater，Francoissuddenlycriedtohiscompanion："Lookwhat’scoming！I’mgoingtogiveyouachop！"

Itwasanenormous，swollencorpsethatwasfloatingdownwithitsfeetstickingstraightupintheair.

Francoisswamuptoit，stilljoking："Whew！it’snotfresh.Whatacatch，oldman！Itisn’tthin，either！"Hekeptswimmingaboutatadistancefromtheanimalthatwasinastateofdecomposition.Then，suddenly，hewassilentandlookedatit：attentively.Thistimehecamenearenoughtotouch，it.Helookedfixedlyatthecollar，thenhestretchedouthisarm，seizedtheneck，swungthecorpseroundanddrewitupclosetohimandreadonthecopperwhichhadturnedgreenandwhichstillstucktothediscoloredleather："MademoiselleCocotte，belongingtothecoachmanFrancois."

Thedeaddoghadcomemorethanahundredmilestofinditsmaster.

Heletoutafrightfulshriekandbegantoswimforthebeachwithallhismight，stillhowling;andassoonashetouchedlandheranawaywildly，starknaked，throughthecountry.Hewasinsane！

THECORSICANBANDIT

TheroadascendedgentlythroughtheforestofAitone.Thelargepinesformedasolemndomeaboveourheads，andthatmysterioussoundmadebythewindinthetreessoundedlikethenotesofanorgan.

Afterwalkingforthreehours，therewasaclearing，andthenatintervalsanenormouspineumbrella，andthenwesuddenlycametotheedgeoftheforest，somehundredmetersbelow，thepassleadingtothewildvalleyofNiolo.

Onthetwoprojectingheightswhichcommandedaviewofthispass，someoldtrees，grotesquelytwisted，seemedtohavemountedwithpainfulefforts，likescoutssentinadvanceofthemultitudeintherear.Whenweturnedround，wesawtheentireforeststretchedbeneathourfeet，likeagiganticbasinofverdure，inclosedbybarerockswhosesummitsseemedtoreachthesky.

Weresumedourwalk，and，tenminuteslater，foundourselvesinthepass.

ThenIbeheldaremarkablelandscape.Beyondanotherforeststretchedavalley，butavalleysuchasIhadneverseenbefore;asolitudeofstone，tenleagueslong，hollowedoutbetweentwohighmountains，withoutafieldoratreetobeseen.ThiswastheNiolovalley，thefatherlandofCorsicanliberty，theinaccessiblecitadel，fromwhichtheinvadershadneverbeenabletodriveoutthemountaineers.

Mycompanionsaidtome："Thisiswhereallourbanditshavetakenrefuge？"

Erelongwewereatthefurtherendofthisgorge，sowild，soinconceivablybeautiful.

Notabladeofgrass，notaplant—nothingbutgranite.Asfarasoureyescouldreach，wesawinfrontofusadesertofglitteringstone，heatedlikeanovenbyaburningsun，whichseemedtohangforthatverypurposerightabovethegorge.Whenweraisedoureyestowardsthecrests，westooddazzledandstupefiedbywhatwesaw.Theylookedlikeafestoonofcoral;allthesummitsareofporphyry;andtheskyoverheadwasviolet，purple，tingedwiththecoloringofthesestrangemountains.

Lowerdown，thegranitewasofscintillatinggray，andseemedgroundtopowderbeneathourfeet.Atourright，alongalongandirregularcourse，roaredatumultuoustorrent.Andwestaggeredalongunderthisheat，inthislight，inthisburning，arid，desolatevalleycutbythistorrentofturbulentwaterwhichseemedtobeeverhurryingonward，withoutfertilizingtherocks，lostinthisfurnacewhichgreedilydrankitupwithoutbeingsaturatedorrefreshedbyit.

But，suddenly，therewasvisibleatourrightalittlewoodencrosssunkinalittleheapofstones.Amanhadbeenkilledthere;andIsaidtomycompanion.

"Tellmeaboutyourbandits."

Hereplied：

"Iknewthemostcelebratedofthem，theterribleSt.Lucia.Iwilltellyouhishistory.

"Hisfatherwaskilledinaquarrelbyayoungmanofthedistrict，itissaid;andSt.Luciawasleftalonewithhissister.Hewasaweak，timidyouth，small，oftenill，withoutanyenergy.Hedidnotproclaimvengeanceagainsttheassassinofhisfather.Allhisrelativescametoseehim，andimploredofhimtoavengehisdeath;heremaineddeaftotheirmenacesandtheirsupplications.

"Then，followingtheoldCorsicancustom，hissister，inherindignationcarriedawayhisblackclothes，inorderthathemightnotwearmourningforadeadmanwhohadnotbeenavenged.Hewasinsensibletoeventhisaffront，andratherthantakedownfromtherackhisfather’sgun，whichwasstillloaded，heshuthimselfup，notdaringtobravethelooksoftheyoungmenofthedistrict.

"Heseemedtohaveevenforgottenthecrime，andlivedwithhissisterintheseclusionoftheirdwelling.

But，oneday，themanwhowassuspectedofhavingcommittedthemurder，wasabouttogetmarried.St.Luciadidnotappeartobemovedbythisnews，but，outofsheerbravado，doubtless，thebridegroom，onhiswaytothechurch，passedbeforethehouseofthetwoorphans.

"Thebrotherandthesister，attheirwindow，wereeatingfrijoles，whentheyoungmansawthebridalprocessiongoingby.Suddenlyhebegantotremble，rosetohisfeetwithoututteringaword，madethesignofthecross，tookthegunwhichwashangingoverthefireplace，andwentout.

"Whenhespokeofthislateron，hesaid：’Idon’tknowwhatwasthematterwithme;itwaslikefireinmyblood;IfeltthatImustdoit，that，inspiteofeverything，Icouldnotresist，andIconcealedtheguninacaveontheroadtoCorte.

"Anhourlater，hecameback，withnothinginhishand，andwithhishabitualairofsadweariness.Hissisterbelievedthattherewasnothingfurtherinhisthoughts.

Butwhennightfellhedisappeared.

"Hisenemyhad，thesameevening，torepairtoCorteonfoot，accompaniedbyhistwogroomsmen.

"Hewaswalkingalong，singingashewent，whenSt.Luciastoodbeforehim，andlookingstraightinthemurderer’sface，exclaimed：’Nowisthetime！’andshothimpoint—blankinthechest.

"Oneofthemenfled;theotherstaredat，theyoungman，saying：

"’Whathaveyoudone，St.Lucia？’andhewasabouttohastentoCorteforhelp，whenSt.Luciasaidinasterntone：

"’Ifyoumoveanotherstep，I’llshootyouintheleg.’

"Theother，awareofhistimidityhitherto，replied：’Youwouldnotdaretodoit！’andwashurryingoffwhenhefellinstantaneously，histhighshatteredbyabullet.

"AndSt.Lucia，comingovertowherehelay，said：

"’Iamgoingtolookatyourwound;ifitisnotserious，I’llleaveyouthere;ifitismortalI’llfinishyouoff."

"Heinspectedthewound，considereditmortal，andslowlyreloadinghisgun，toldthewoundedmantosayaprayer，andshothimthroughthehead.

"Nextdayhewasinthemountains.

"AnddoyouknowwhatthisSt.Luciadidafterthis？

"Allhisfamilywerearrestedbythegendarmes.Hisuncle，thecure，whowassuspectedofhavingincitedhimtothisdeedofvengeance，washimselfputinprison，andaccusedbythedeadman’srelatives.Butheescaped，tookaguninhisturn，andwenttojoinhisnephewinthebrush.

"Next，St.Luciakilled，oneaftertheother，hisuncle’saccusers，andtoreouttheireyestoteachtheothersnevertostatewhattheyhadseenwiththeireyes.

"Hekilledalltherelatives，alltheconnectionsofhisenemy’sfamily.

Heslewduringhislifefourteengendarmes，burneddownthehousesofhisadversaries，andwas，uptothedayofhisdeath，themostterribleofallthebanditswhosememorywehavepreserved."

ThesundisappearedbehindMonteCintoandthetallshadowofthegranitemountainwenttosleeponthegraniteofthevalley.WequickenedourpaceinordertoreachbeforenightthelittlevillageofAlbertaccio，nothingbutapileofstonesweldedintothestoneflanksofawildgorge.AndIsaidasIthoughtofthebandit：

"Whataterriblecustomyourvendettais！"

Mycompanionansweredwithanairofresignation：

"Whatwouldyouhave？Amanmustdohisduty！"

THEGRAVE

TheseventeenthofJuly，onethousandeighthundredandeighty—three，athalf—pasttwointhemorning，thewatchmaninthecemeteryofBesiers，wholivedinasmallcottageontheedgeofthisfieldofthedead，wasawakenedbythebarkingofhisdog，whichwasshutupinthekitchen.

Goingdownquickly，hesawtheanimalsniffingatthecrackofthedoorandbarkingfuriously，asifsometramphadbeensneakingaboutthehouse.Thekeeper，Vincent，thereforetookhisgunandwentout.

Hisdog，precedinghim，atonceraninthedirectionoftheAvenueGeneralBonnet，stoppingshortatthemonumentofMadameTomoiseau.

Thekeeper，advancingcautiously，soonsawafaintlightonthesideoftheAvenueMalenvers，andstealinginamongthegraves，hecameuponahorribleactofprofanation.

Amanhaddugupthecoffinofayoungwomanwhohadbeenburiedtheeveningbeforeandwasdraggingthecorpseoutofit.

Asmalldarklantern，standingonapileofearth，lightedupthishideousscene.

Vincentspranguponthewretch，threwhimtotheground，boundhishandsandtookhimtothepolicestation.

Itwasayoung，wealthyandrespectedlawyerintown，namedCourbataille.

Hewasbroughtintocourt.ThepublicprosecutoropenedthecasebyreferringtothemonstrousdeedsoftheSergeantBertrand.

Awaveofindignationsweptoverthecourtroom.Whenthemagistratesatdownthecrowdassembledcried："Death！death！"Withdifficultythepresidingjudgeestablishedsilence.

Thenhesaidgravely：

"Defendant，whathaveyoutosayinyourdefense？"

Courbataille，whohadrefusedcounsel，rose.Hewasahandsomefellow，tall，brown，withafrankface，energeticmannerandafearlesseye.

Payingnoattentiontothewhistlingsintheroom，hebegantospeakinavoicethatwaslowandveiledatfirst，butthatgrewmorefirmasheproceeded.

"MonsieurlePresident，gentlemenofthejury：Ihaveverylittletosay.

ThewomanwhosegraveIviolatedwasmysweetheart.Ilovedher.

"Ilovedher，notwithasensualloveandnotwithmeretendernessofheartandsoul，butwithanabsolute，completelove，withanoverpoweringpassion.

"Hearme：

"WhenImetherforthefirsttimeIfeltastrangesensation.Itwasnotastonishmentnoradmiration，noryetthatwhichiscalledloveatfirstsight，butafeelingofdeliciouswell—being，asifIhadbeenplungedintoawarmbath.Hergesturesseducedme，hervoiceenchantedme，anditwaswithinfinitepleasurethatIlookeduponherperson.

ItseemedtomeasifIhadseenherbeforeandasifIhadknownheralongtime.Shehadwithinhersomethingofmyspirit.

"Sheseemedtomelikeananswertoacryutteredbymysoul，tothatvagueandunceasingcrywithwhichwecalluponHopeduringourwholelife.

"WhenIknewheralittlebetter，themerethoughtofseeingheragainfilledmewithexquisiteandprofounduneasiness;thetouchofherhandinminewasmoredelightfultomethananythingthatIhadimagined;hersmilefilledmewithamadjoy，withthedesiretorun，todance，toflingmyselfupontheground.

"Sowebecamelovers.

"Yes，morethanthat：shewasmyverylife.Ilookedfornothingfurtheronearth，andhadnofurtherdesires.Ilongedfornothingfurther.

"Oneevening，whenwehadgoneonasomewhatlongwalkbytheriver，wewereovertakenbytherain，andshecaughtcold.Itdevelopedintopneumoniathenextday，andaweeklatershewasdead.

"Duringthehoursofhersufferingastonishmentandconsternationpreventedmyunderstandingandreflectinguponit，butwhenshewasdeadIwassooverwhelmedbyblankdespairthatIhadnothoughtsleft.

Iwept.

"Duringallthehorribledetailsoftheintermentmykeenandwildgriefwaslikeamadness，akindofsensual，physicalgrief.

"Thenwhenshewasgone，whenshewasundertheearth，mymindatoncefounditselfagain，andIpassedthroughaseriesofmoralsufferings