original short stories-8-第7部分

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entire　hours；　without　moving；　plunged　in　deep　reverie。　　He　now　did　not
even　talk　to　Madame　Source；　merely　answering　her　remarks　with　short；
formal　words。　　Nevertheless；　he　was　agreeable　and　attentive　in　his　manner
toward　her；　but　he　never　embraced　her　now。

She　had　by　this　time　grown　slightly　afraid　of　him　when　they　sat　facing
one　another　at　night　on　opposite　sides　of　the　fireplace。　　She　wanted　to
wake　him　up；　to　make　him　say　something；　no　matter　what；　that　would　break
this　dreadful　silence；　which　was　like　the　darkness　of　a　wood。　　But　he　did
not　appear　to　listen　to　her；　and　she　shuddered　with　the　terror　of　a　poor
feeble　woman　when　she　had　spoken　to　him　five　or　six　times　successively
without　being　able　to　get　a　word　out　of　him。

What　was　the　matter　with　him？　　What　was　going　on　in　that　closed…up　head？
When　she　had　remained　thus　two　or　three　hours　opposite　him；　she　felt　as
if　she　were　going　insane；　and　longed　to　rush　away　and　to　escape　into　the
open　country　in　order　to　avoid　that　mute；　eternal　companionship　and　also
some　vague　danger；　which　she　could　not　define；　but　of　which　she　had　a
presentiment。

She　frequently　wept　when　she　was　alone。　　What　was　the　matter　with　him？
When　she　expressed　a　wish；　he　unmurmuringly　carried　it　into　execution。
When　she　wanted　anything　brought　from　the　city；　he　immediately　went　there
to　procure　it。　　She　had　no　complaint　to　make　of　him；　no；　indeed！　　And
yet

Another　year　flitted　by；　and　it　seemed　to　her　that　a　fresh　change　had
taken　place　in　the　mind　of　the　young　man。　　She　perceived　it；　she　felt　it；
she　divined　it。　　How？　　No　matter！　　She　was　sure　she　was　not　mistaken；　but
she　could　not　have　explained　in　what　manner　the　unknown　thoughts　of　this
strange　youth　had　changed。

It　seemed　to　her　that；　until　now；　he　had　been　like　a　person　in　a
hesitating　frame　of　mind；　who　had　suddenly　arrived　at　a　determination。
This　idea　came　to　her　one　evening　as　she　met　his　glance；　a　fixed；
singular　glance　which　she　had　not　seen　in　his　face　before。

Then　he　commenced　to　watch　her　incessantly；　and　she　wished　she　could　hide
herself　in　order　to　avoid　that　cold　eye　riveted　on　her。

He　kept　staring　at　her；　evening　after　evening；　for　hours　together；　only
averting　his　eyes　when　she　said；　utterly　unnerved：

〃Do　not　look　at　me　like　that；　my　child！〃

Then　he　would　lower　his　head。

But　the　moment　her　back　was　turned　she　once　more　felt　that　his　eyes　were
upon　her。　　Wherever　she　went；　he　pursued　her　with　his　persistent　gaze。

Sometimes；　when　she　was　walking　in　her　little　garden；　she　suddenly
noticed　him　hidden　behind　a　bush；　as　if　he　were　lying　in　wait　for　her；
and；　again；　when　she　sat　in　front　of　the　house　mending　stockings　while　he
was　digging　some　vegetable　bed；　he　kept　continually　watching　her　in　a
surreptitious　manner；　as　he　worked。

It　was　in　vain　that　she　asked　him：

〃What's　the　matter　with　you；　my　boy？　　For　the　last　three　years；　you　have
become　very　different。　　I　don't　recognize　you。　　Do　tell　me　what　ails　you；
and　what　you　are　thinking　of。〃

He　invariably　replied；　in　a　quiet；　weary　tone：

〃Why；　nothing　ails　me；　aunt！〃

And　when　she　persisted：

〃Ah！　　my　child；　answer　me；　answer　me　when　I　speak　to　you。　　If　you　knew
what　grief　you　caused　me；　you　would　always　answer；　and　you　would　not　look
at　me　that　way。　　Have　you　any　trouble？　　Tell　me！　　I'll　comfort　you！〃

He　went　away；　with　a　tired　air；　murmuring：

〃But　there　is　nothing　the　matter　with　me；　I　assure　you。〃

He　had　not　grown　much；　having　always　a　childish　look；　although　his
features　were　those　of　a　man。　　They　were；　however；　hard　and　badly　cut。
He　seemed　incomplete；　abortive；　only　half　finished；　and　disquieting　as　a
mystery。　　He　was　a　self…contained；　unapproachable　being；　in　whom　there
seemed　always　to　be　some　active；　dangerous　mental　labor　going　on。
Mademoiselle　Source　was　quite　conscious　of　all　this；　and　she　could　not
sleep　at　night；　so　great　was　her　anxiety。　　Frightful　terrors；　dreadful
nightmares　assailed　her。　　She　shut　herself　up　in　her　own　room；　and
barricaded　the　door；　tortured　by　fear。

What　was　she　afraid　of？　　She　could　not　tell。

She　feared　everything；　the　night；　the　walls；　the　shadows　thrown　by　the
moon　on　the　white　curtains　of　the　windows；　and；　above　all；　she　feared
him。

Why？

What　had　she　to　fear？　　Did　she　know　what　it　was？

She　could　live　this　way　no　longer！　　She　felt　certain　that　a　misfortune
threatened　her；　a　frightful　misfortune。

She　set　forth　secretly　one　morning；　and　went　into　the　city　to　see　her
relatives。　　She　told　them　about　the　matter　in　a　gasping　voice。　　The　two
women　thought　she　was　going　mad　and　tried　to　reassure　her。

She　said：

〃If　you　knew　the　way　he　looks　at　me　from　morning　till　night。　　He　never
takes　his　eyes　off　me！　　At　times；　I　feel　a　longing　to　cry　for　help；　to
call　in　the　neighbors；　so　much　am　I　afraid。　　But　what　could　I　say　to
them？　　He　does　nothing　but　look　at　me。〃

The　two　female　cousins　asked：

〃Is　he　ever　brutal　to　you？　　Does　he　give　you　sharp　answers？〃

She　replied：

〃No；　never；　he　does　everything　I　wish；　he　works　hard：　he　is　steady；　but　I
am　so　frightened　that　I　care　nothing　for　that。　　He　is　planning　something；
I　am　certain　of　thatquite　certain。　　I　don't　care　to　remain　all　alone
like　that　with　him　in　the　country。〃

The　relatives；　astonished　at　her　words；　declared　that　people　would　be
amazed；　would　not　understand；　and　they　advised　her　to　keep　silent　about
her　fears　and　her　plans；　without；　however；　dissuading　her　from　coming　to
reside　in　the　city；　hoping　in　that　way　that　the　entire　inheritance　would
eventually　fall　into　their　hands。

They　even　promised　to　assist　her　in　selling　her　house；　and　in　finding
another；　near　them。

Mademoiselle　Source　returned　home。　　But　her　mind　was　so　much　upset　that
she　trembled　at　the　slightest　noise；　and　her　hands　shook　whenever　any
trifling　disturbance　agitated　her。

Twice　she　went　again　to　consult　her　relatives；　quite　determined　now　not
to　remain　any　longer　in　this　way　in　her　lonely　dwelling。　　At　last；　she
found　a　little　cottage　in　the　suburbs；　which　suited　her；　and　she
privately　bought　it。

The　signature　of　the　contract　took　place　on　a　Tuesday　morning；　and
Mademoiselle　Source　devoted　the　rest　of　the　day　to　the　preparations　for
her　change　of　residence。

At　eight　o'clock　in　the　evening　she　got　into　the　diligence　which　passed
within　a　few　hundred　yards　of　her　house；　and　she　told　the　conductor　to
put　her　down　in　the　place　where　she　usually　alighted。　　The　man　called　out
to　her　as　he　whipped　his　horses：

〃Good　evening；　Mademoiselle　Sourcegood　night！〃

She　replied　as　she　walked　on：

〃Good　evening；　Pere　Joseph。〃　　Next　morning；　at　half…past　seven；　the
postman　who　conveyed　letters　to　the　village　noticed　at　the　cross…road；
not　far　from　the　high　road；　a　large　splash　of　blood　not　yet　dry。　　He　said
to　himself：　〃Hallo！　some　boozer　must　have　had　a　nose　bleed。〃

But　he　perceived　ten　paces　farther　on　a　pocket　handkerchief　also　stained
with　blood。　　He　picked　it　up。　　The　linen　was　fine；　and　the　postman；　in
alarm；　made　his　way　over　to　the　ditch；　where　he　fancied　he　saw　a　strange
object。

Mademoiselle　Source　was　lying　at　the　bottom　on　the　grass；　her　throat　cut
with　a　knife。

An　hour　later；　the　gendarmes；　the　examining　magistrate；　and　other
authorities　made　an　inquiry　as　to　the　cause　of　death。

The　two　female　relatives；　called　as　witnesses；　told　all　about　the　old
maid's　fears　and　her　last　plans。

The　orphan　was　arrested。　　After　the　death　of　the　woman　who　had　adopted
him；　he　wept　from　morning　till　night；　plunged；　at　least　to　all
appearance；　in　the　most　violent　grief。

He　proved　that　he　had　spent　the　evening　up　to　eleven　o'clock　in　a　cafe。
Ten　persons　had　seen　him；　having　remained　there　till　his　departure。

The　driver　of　the　diligence　stated　that　he　had　set　down　the　murdered
woman　on　the　road　between　half…past　nine　and　ten　o'clock。

The　accused　was　acquitted。　　A　will；　drawn　up　a　long　time　before；　which
had　been　left　in　the　hands　of　a　notary　in　Rennes；　made　him　sole　heir。
So　he　inherited　everything。

For　a　long　time；　the　people　of　the　country　boycotted　him；　as　they　still
suspected　him。　　His　house；　that　of　the　dead　woman；　was　looked　upon　as
accursed。　　People　avoided　him　in　the　street。

But　he　showed　himself　so　good…natured；　so　open；　so　familiar；　that
gradually　these　horrible　doubts　were　forgotten。　　He　was　generous；
obliging；　ready　to　talk　to　the　humblest　about　anything；　as　long　as　they
cared　to　talk　to　him。

The　notary；　Maitre　Rameau；　was　one　of　the　first　to　take　his　part；
attracted　by　his　smiling　loquacity。　　He　said　at　a　dinner；　at　the　tax
collector's　house：

〃A　man　who　speaks　with　such　facility　and　who　is　always　in　good　humor
could　not　have　such　a　crime　on　his　conscience。〃

Touched　by　his　argument；　the　others　who　were　present　reflected；　and　they
recalled　to　mind　the　long　conversations　with　this　man　who　would　almost
compel　them　to　stop　at　the　road　corners　to　listen　to　his　ideas；　who
insisted　on　their　going　into　his　house　when　they　were　passing　by　his
garden；　who　could　crack　a　joke　better　than　the　lieutenant　of　the
gendarmes　himself；　and　who　possessed　such　contagious　gaiety　that；　in
spite　of　the　repugnance　with　which　he　inspired　them；　they　could　not　keep
from　always　laughing　in　his　company。

All　doors　were　opened　to　him　after　a　time。

He　is　to…day　the　mayor　of　his　township。






THE　BEGGAR

He　had　seen　better　days；　despite　his　present　misery　and　infirmities。

At　the　age　of　fifteen　both　his　legs　had　been　crushed　by　a　carriage　on　the
Varville　highway。　　From　that　time　forth　he　begged；　dragging　himself　along
the　roads　and　through　the　farmyards；　supported　by　crutches　which　forced
his　shoulders　up　to　his　ears。　　His　head　looked　as　if　it　were　squeezed　in
between　two　mountains。

A　foundling；　picked　up　out　of　a　ditch　by　the　priest　of　Les　Billettes　on
the　eve　of　All　Saints'　Day　and　baptized；　for　that　reason；　Nicholas
Toussaint；　reared　by　charity；　utterly　without　education；　crippled　in
consequence　of　having　drunk　several　glasses　of　brandy　given　him　by　the
baker　（such　a　funny　story！）　and　a　vagabond　all　his　life　afterwardthe
only　thing　he　knew　how　to　do　was　to　hold　out　his　hand　for　alms。

At　one　time　the　Baroness　d'Avary　allowed　him　t