"Oh，madame，"criedFarrabesche，"beforelong，whentherainsbegin，youwillhearthetorrentroarevenatthechateau;buteventhatisnothingtowhathappensinspringwhenthesnowsmelt。ThewaterthenrushesdownfromallpartsoftheforestbehindMontegnac，fromthosegreatslopeswhicharebackofthehillsonwhichyouhaveyourpark。
　　Allthewaterofthesemountainspoursintothisvalleyandmakesadeluge。Luckilyforyou，thetreesholdtheearth;otherwisethelandwouldslideintothevalley。"
　　"Wherearethesprings？"askedMadameGraslin，givingherfullattentiontowhathesaid。
　　Farrabeschepointedtoanarrowgorgewhichseemedtoendthevalleyjustbelowhishouse。"TheyaremostlyonaclayplateaulyingbetweentheLimousinandtheCorreze;theyaremeregreenpoolsduringthesummer，andlosethemselvesinthesoil。Noonelivesinthatunhealthyregion。Thecattlewillnoteatthegrassorreedsthatgrownearthebrackishwater。Thatvasttract，whichhasmorethanthreethousandacresinit，isanopencommonforthreedistricts;but，liketheplainsofMontegnac，nousecanbemadeofit。Thissideonyourproperty，asIshowedyou，thereisalittleearthamongthestones，butoverthereisnothingbutsandyrock。"
　　"Sendyourboyforthehorses;Iwillrideoverandseeitformyself。"
　　Benjamindeparted，afterMadameGraslinhadshownhimthedirectioninwhichhewouldfindMauriceandthehorses。
　　"Youwhoknow，sotheytellme，everypeculiarityofthecountrythoroughly，"continuedMadameGraslin，"explaintomehowitisthatthestreamsofmyforestwhichareonthesideofthemountaintowardMontegnac，andoughtthereforetosendtheirwatersdownthere，donotdoso，neitherinregularwater—coursesnorinsuddentorrentsafterrainsandthemeltingofthesnows。"
　　"Ah，madame，"saidFarrabesche，"therector，whothinksallthetimeaboutthewelfareofMontegnac，hasguessedthereason，buthecan’tfindanyproofofit。Sinceyourarrival，hehasmademetracethepathofthewaterfrompointtopointthrougheachravineandvalley。
　　Iwasreturningyesterday，whenIhadthehonorofmeetingyou，fromthebaseoftheRoche—Vive，whereIcarefullyexaminedthelayoftheland。Hearingthehorses’feet，Icameuptoseewhowasthere。
　　MonsieurBonnetisnotonlyasaint，madame;heisamanofgreatknowledge。’Farrabesche，’hesaidtome（Iwasthenworkingontheroadthevillagehasjustbuilttothechateau，andtherectorcametomeandpointedtothatchainofhillsfromMontegnactoRoche—Vive），——
　　’Farrabesche，’hesaid，’theremustbesomereasonwhythatwater—sheddoesnotsendanyofitswatertotheplain;Naturemusthavemadesomesluicewaywhichcarriesitelsewhere。’Well，madame，thatideaissosimpleyouwouldsupposeanychildmighthavethoughtit;yetnoonesinceMontegnacexisted，neitherthegreatlords，northeirbailiffs，northeirforesters，northepoor，northerich，noneofthosewhosawthatplainbarrenforwantofwater，everaskedthemselveswhythestreamswhichnowfeedtheGaboudonotcomethere。
　　Thethreedistrictsabove，whichhaveconstantlybeenafflictedwithfeversinconsequenceofstagnantwater，neverlookedfortheremedy;
　　Imyself，wholiveinthewilds，neverdreamedofit;itneededamanofGod。"
　　Thetearsfilledhiseyesashesaidtheword。
　　"Allthatmenofgeniusdiscover，"saidMadameGraslin，"seemssosimplethateveryonethinkstheymighthavediscovereditthemselves。
　　But，"sheadded，asiftoherself，"geniushasthisfinethingaboutit，——itresemblesalltheworld，butnooneresemblesit。"
　　"IunderstoodMonsieurBonnetatonce，"continuedFarrabesche;"itdidnottakehimmanywordstotellmewhatIhadtodo。Madame，thisfactItellyouofisallthemoresingularbecausethereare，towardtheplain，greatrentsandfissuresinthemountain，gorgesandravinesdownwhichthewaterflows;but，strangetosay，thesecleftsandravinesandgorgesallsendtheirstreamsintoalittlevalleywhichisseveralfeetbelowthelevelofyourplain。To—dayIhavediscoveredthereasonofthisphenomenon:fromtheRoche—VivetoMontegnac，atthefootofthemountains，runsashelforbarricadeofrock，varyinginheightfromtwentytothirtyfeet;thereisnotabreakinitfromendtoend;anditisformedofaspeciesofrockwhichMonsieurBonnetcallsschist。Thesoilaboveit，whichisofcoursesofterthanrock，hasbeenhollowedoutbytheactionofthewater，whichisturnedatrightanglesbythebarricadeofrock，andthusflowsnaturallyintotheGabou。Thetreesandunderbrushoftheforestconcealthisformationandthehollowingoutofthesoil。Butafterfollowingthecourseofthewater，asIhavedonebythetracesleftofitspassage，itiseasytoconvinceanyoneofthefact。TheGabouthusreceivesthewater—shedofbothmountains，——thatwhichoughttogodownthemountainfaceonwhichyourparkandgardenaretotheplain，andthatwhichcomesdowntherockyslopesbeforeus。
　　AccordingtoMonsieurBonnetthepresentstateofthingswillcreasewhenthewater—shedtowardtheplaingainsanaturaloutlet，andisdammedtowardtheGaboubytheearthandrockswhichthemountaintorrentsbringdownwiththem。Itwilltakeahundredyearstodothat，however;andbesides，itisn’tdesirable。Ifyoursoilwillnottakeupmorewaterthanthegreatcommonyouarenowgoingtosee，Montegnacwouldbefullofstagnantpools，breedingfeverinthecommunity。"
　　"IsupposethattheplacesMonsieurBonnetshowedmetheotherdaywherethefoliageofthetreesisstillgreenmarkthepresentconduitsbywhichthewaterfallsintotheGabou？"
　　"Yes，madame。BetweenRoche—ViveandMontegnactherearethreedistinctmountainswiththreehollowsbetweenthem，downwhichthewaters，stoppedbytheschistbarrier，turnoffintotheGabou。Thebeltoftreesstillgreenatthefootofthehillabovethebarrier，whichlooks，atadistance，likeapartoftheplain，isreallythewater—sluicetherectorsupposed，veryjustly，thatNaturehadmadeforherself。"
　　"Well，whathasbeentotheinjuryofMontegnacshallsoonbeitsprosperity，"saidMadameGraslin，inatoneofdeepintention。"Andinasmuchasyouhavebeenthefirstinstrumentemployedonthework，youshallshareinit;youshallfindmefaithful，industriousworkmen;lackofmoneycanalwaysbemadeupbydevotionandgoodwork。"
　　BenjaminandMauricecameupasVeroniqueendedthesewords;shemountedherhorseandsignedtoFarrabeschetomounttheother。
　　"Guideme，"shesaid，"totheplacewherethewatersspreadoutinpoolsoverthatwasteland。"
　　"Thereisallthemorereasonwhymadameshouldgothere，"saidFarrabesche，"becausethelateMonsieurGraslin，undertherector’sadvice，boughtthreehundredacresattheopeningofthatgorge，onwhichthewatershaveleftsedimentenoughtomakegoodsoiloverquiteapieceofground。MadamewillalsoseetheoppositesideoftheRoche—Vive，wheretherearefinewoods，amongwhichMonsieurGraslinwouldnodoubthaveputafarmhadhelived;there’sanexcellentplaceforone，wherethespringwhichrisesjustbymyhouselosesitselfbelow。"
　　Farrabescherodefirsttoshowtheway，takingVeroniquethroughapathwhichledtothespotwherethetwoslopesdrewcloselytogetherandthenflewapart，onetotheeasttheothertothewest，asifrepulsedbyashock。Thisnarrowpassage，filledwithlargerocksandcoarse，tallgrasses，wasonlyaboutsixtyfeetinwidth。
　　TheRoche—Vive，cutperpendicularlyonthissidelookedlikeawallofgraniteinwhichtherewasnofoothold;butabovethisinflexiblewallwasacrownoftrees，therootsofwhichhungdownit，mostlypinesclingingtotherockwiththeirforkedfeetlikebirdsonabough。
　　Theoppositehill，hollowedbytime，hadafrowningfront，sandy，rocky，andyellow;herewereshallowcaverns，dipswithoutdepth;thesoftandpulverizingrockhadochretones。Afewplantswithpricklyleavesabove，andburdocks，reeds，andaquaticgrowthsbelow，wereindicationenoughofthenorthernexposureandthepovertyofthesoil。Thebedofthetorrentwasofstone，quitehard，butyellow。
　　Evidentlythetwochains，thoughparallelandrippedasunderbyoneofthegreatcatastropheswhichhavechangedthefaceoftheglobe，were，eitherfromsomeinexplicablecapriceorforsomeunknownreason，thediscoveryofwhichawaitedgenius，composedofelementsthatwerewhollydissimilar。Thecontrastoftheirtwonaturesshowedmoreclearlyherethanelsewhere。
　　Veroniquenowsawbeforeheranimmensedryplateau，withoutanyvegetation，chalky（thisexplainedtheabsorptionofthewater）andstrewnwithpoolsofstagnantwaterandrockyplacesstrippedofsoil。
　　TotherightwerethemountainsoftheCorreze;tolefttheRoche—Vivebarredtheviewcoveredwithitsnobletrees;onitsfurtherslopewasameadowofsometwohundredacres，theverdureofwhichcontrastedwiththehideousaspectofthedesolateplateau。
　　"MysonandIcutthatditchyouseedowntheremarkedbythetallgrasses，"saidFarrabesche;"itjoinstheonewhichboundsyourforest。Onthissidetheestateisboundedbyadesert，forthenearestvillageisthreemilesdistant。"
　　Veroniqueturnedrapidlytothedismalplain，followedbyherguide。
　　Sheleapedherhorseacrosstheditchandrodeatfullgallopacrossthedrearexpanse，seemingtotakeasavagepleasureincontemplatingthatvastimageofdesolation。Farrabeschewasright。Nopower，nowillcouldputtoanyusewhateverthatsoilwhichresoundedunderthehorses’feetasthoughitwerehollow。Thiseffectwasproducedbythenaturalporousnessoftheclay;buttherewerefissuresalsothroughwhichthewaterflowedaway，nodoubttosomedistantsource。
　　"Therearemanysoulslikethis，"thoughtVeronique，stoppingherhorseaftershehadriddenatfullspeedforfifteenortwentyminutes。Sheremainedmotionlessandthoughtfulinthemidstofthisdesert，wheretherewasneitheranimalnorinsectlifeandwherethebirdsneverflew。TheplainofMontegnacwasatleastpebblyorsandy;
　　onitwereplaceswhereafewinchesofsoildidgiveafootholdfortherootsofcertainplains;butheretheungratefulchalk，neitherstonenorearth，repelledeventheeye，whichwasforcedtoturnforrelieftotheblueoftheether。
　　Afterexaminingtheboundsofherforestandthemeadowspurchasedbyherhusband，VeroniquereturnedtowardtheoutletoftheGabou，butslowly。ShethensawFarrabeschegazingintoasortofditchwhichlookedlikeoneaspeculatormighthavedugintothisdesolatecorneroftheearthexpectingNaturetogiveupsomehiddentreasure。
　　"Whatisthematter？"askedVeronique，noticingonthatmanlyfaceanexpressionofdeepsadness。
　　"Madame，Iowemylifetothatditch;orrather，tospeakmorecorrectly，Iowetoittimeforrepentance，timetoredeemmysinsintheeyesofmen。"
　　ThismethodofexplaininglifesoaffectedMadameGraslinthatshestoppedherhorseonthebrinkoftheditch。
　　"Iwashidingthere，madame。ThegroundissoresonantthatwhenmyearwasagainstitIcouldhearthehorsesofthegendarmerie，oreventhefootstepsofthesoldiers，whicharealwayspeculiar。ThatgavemetimetoescapeuptheGaboutoaplacewhereIhadahorse，andI
　　alwaysmanagedtoputseveralmilesbetweenmyselfandmypursuers。
　　Catherineusedtobringmefoodduringthenight;ifshedidnotfindmeIalwaysfoundthebreadandwineinaholecoveredwitharock。"
　　Thisrecollectionofhiswanderingandcriminallife，whichmighthaveinjuredFarrabeschewithsomepersons，metwiththemostindulgentpityfromMadameGraslin。SherodehastilyontowardtheGabou，followedbyherguide。Whileshemeasuredwithhereyethisopening，throughwhichcouldbeseenthelongvalley，sosmilingononeside，soruinedontheother，andatitslowerend，aleagueaway，theterracedhill—sidesbackofMontegnac，Farrabeschesaid:——
　　"There’llbeafamousrushofwaterinafewdays。"
　　"Andnextyear，onthisday，notadropshallflowthere。Bothsidesbelongtome，andIwillbuildadamsolidenoughandhighenoughtostopthefreshet。Insteadofavalleyyieldingnothing，Iwillhavealaketwenty，thirty，fortyfeetdeepoveranextentofthreeorfourmiles，——animmensereservoir，whichshallsupplytheflowofirrigationwithwhichIwillfertilizetheplainofMontegnac。"
　　"Ah，madame！therectorwasright，whenhesaidtousaswefinishedourroad，’Youareworkingforamother。’MayGodshedhisblessingonsuchanundertaking。"
　　"Saynothingaboutit，Farrabesche，"saidMadameGraslin。"TheideawasMonsieurBonnet’s。"
　　Theyreturnedtothecottage，whereVeroniquepickedupMaurice，withwhomsherodehastilybacktothechateau。WhenMadameSauviatandAlinesawhertheywerestruckwiththechangeinhercountenance;thehopeofdoinggoodintheregionshenowownedgaveheralreadyanappearanceofhappiness。ShewroteatoncetoMonsieurGrossetete，begginghimtoaskMonsieurdeGrandvilleforthecompletereleaseofthereturnedconvict，onwhoseconductshegavehimassuranceswhichwereconfirmedbyacertificatefromthemayorofMontegnacandbyaletterfromMonsieurBonnet。TothisrequestsheaddedinformationaboutCatherineCurieux，beggingGrossetetetointerestthe/procureur—general/inthegoodworkshewishedtodo，andpersuadehimtowritetotheprefectureofpoliceinParistorecovertracesofthegirl。ThecircumstanceofCatherine’shavingsentmoneytoFarrabescheatthegalleysoughttobeclewenoughtofurnishinformation。VeroniquewasdeterminedtoknowwhyitwasthattheyoungwomanhadnotreturnedtoherchildandtoFarrabesche，nowthathewasfree。ShealsotoldheroldfriendofherdiscoveryaboutthetorrentoftheGabou，andurgedhimtoselectanableengineer，suchasshehadalreadyaskedhimtoprocureforher。
　　ThenextdaywasSunday，andforthefirsttimesinceherinstallationatMontegnacVeroniquefeltabletohearmassinchurch;sheaccordinglywentthereandtookpossessionofthebenchthatbelongedtoherinthechapeloftheVirgin。Seeinghowdenudedthepoorchurchwas，sheresolvedtodevoteacertainsumyearlytotheneedsofthebuildingandthedecorationofthealtars。Shelistenedtothesweet，impressive，angelicvoiceoftherector，whosesermon，thoughcouchedinsimplelanguagesuitedtotherusticintellectsbeforehim，wassublimeincharacter。Sublimitycomesfromtheheart，intellecthaslittletodowithit;religionisaquenchlesssourceofthissublimitywhichhasnodross;forCatholicismenteringandchangingallhearts，isitselfallheart。MonsieurBonnettookhistextfromtheepistlefortheday，whichsignifiedthat，soonerorlater，Godaccomplishesallpromises，assistingHisfaithfulones，encouragingtherighteous。Hemadeplaintoeverymindthegreatthingswhichmightbeaccomplishedbywealthjudiciouslyusedforthegoodofothers，——explainingthatthedutiesofthepoortotherichwereaswidelyextendedasthoseoftherichtothepoor，andthattheaidandassistancegivenshouldbemutual。
　　Farrabeschehadmadeknowntoafewofthosewhotreatedhiminafriendlymanner（theresultoftheChristiancharitywhichMonsieurBonnethadputinpracticeamonghisparishioners）thebenevolentactsMadameGraslinhaddoneforhim。Herconductinthismatterhadbeentalkedoverbyallthelittlegroupsofpersonsassembledroundthechurchdoorbeforetheservice，asisthecustomincountryplaces。
　　Nothingcouldhavebeenbettercalculatedtowinthefriendshipandgood—willoftheseeminentlysusceptibleminds;sothatwhenVeroniqueleftthechurchafterserviceshefoundnearlyalltheinhabitantsoftheparishformedintwohedgesthroughwhichshewasexpectedtopass。Oneandalltheybowedrespectfullyinprofoundsilence。Shewasdeeplytouchedbythisreception，withoutknowingtheactualcauseofit。SeeingFarrabeschehumblystationedamongthelast，shestoppedandsaidtohim:——
　　"Youareagoodhunter;donotforgettosupplymewithgame。"
　　AfewdayslaterVeroniquewenttowalkwiththerectorthroughthepartoftheforestthatwasnearestthechateau，wishingtodescendwithhimtheterracedslopesshehadseenfromthehouseofFarrabesche。IndoingthissheobtainedcompletecertaintyastothenatureoftheupperaffluentsoftheGabou。TherectorsawforhimselfthatthestreamswhichwateredcertainpartsofupperMontegnaccamefromthemountainsoftheCorreze。Thischainofhillsjoinedthebarrenslopeswehavealreadydescribed，parallelwiththechainoftheRoche—Vive。
　　Onreturningfromthiswalktherectorwasjoyfulasachild;heforesaw，withthenaiveteofapoet，theprosperityofhisdearvillage——forapoetisaman，ishenot？whorealizeshopesbeforetheyripen。MonsieurBonnetgarneredhishayashestoodoverlookingthatbarrenplainfromMadameGraslin’supperterrace。
　　XV
　　STORYOFAGALLEY—SLAVE
　　ThenextdayFarrabescheandhissoncametothechateauwithgame。
　　Thekeeperalsobrought，forFrancis，acocoanutcup，elaboratelycarved，agenuineworkofart，representingabattle。MadameGraslinwaswalkingatthetimeontheterrace，inthedirectionwhichoverlookedLesTascherons。Shesatdownonabench，tookthecupinherhandandlookedearnestlyatthedeftpieceofwork。Afewtearscameintohereyes。
　　"Youmusthavesufferedverymuch，"shesaidtoFarrabesche，afterafewmoments’silence。
　　"HowcouldIhelpit，madame？"hereplied;"forIwastherewithoutthehopeofescape，whichsupportsthelifeofmostconvicts。"
　　"Anawfullife！"shesaidinatoneofhorror，invitingFarrabeschebywordandgesturetosaymore。
　　FarrabeschetooktheconvulsivetremblingandothersignsofemotionhesawinMadameGraslinforthepowerfulinterestofcompassionatecuriosityinhimself。
　　JustthenMadameSauviatappeared，comingdownapathasifshemeanttojointhem;butVeroniquedrewoutherhandkerchiefandmadeanegativesign;saying，withanasperityshehadneverbeforeshowntotheoldwoman:——
　　"Leaveme，leaveme，mother。"
　　"Madame，"saidFarrabesche，"fortenyearsIworethere（holdingouthisleg）achainfastenedtoagreatironringwhichboundmetoanotherman。DuringmytimeIhadtolivethuswiththreedifferentconvicts。Isleptonawoodenbench;Ihadtoworkextraordinarilyhardtoearnalittlemattresscalleda/serpentin/。Eachdormitorycontainseighthundredmen。Eachbed，calleda/tolard/，holdstwenty—
　　fourmen，chainedincouples。Everynightthechainofeachcoupleispassedroundanothergreatchainwhichiscalledthe/filetderamas/。
　　Thischainholdsallthecouplesbythefeet，andrunsalongthebottomofthe/tolard/。Ittookmeovertwoyearstogetaccustomedtothatironclanking，whichcalledoutincessantly，’Thouartagalley—
　　slave！’IfIsleptaninstantsomevilecompanionmovedorquarrelled，remindingmeofwhereIwas。Thereisaterribleapprenticeshiptomakebeforeamancanlearnhowtosleep。ImyselfcouldnotsleepuntilIhadcometotheendofmystrengthandtoutterexhaustion。
　　WhenatlastsleepcameIhadthenightsinwhichtoforget。Oh！to/forget/，madame，thatwassomething！Oncethere，amanmustlearntosatisfyhisneeds，eveninthesmallestthings，accordingtothewayslaiddownbypitilessregulations。Imagine，madame，theeffectsuchalifeproducedonaladlikeme，whohadlivedinthewoodswiththebirdsandthesquirrels！IfIhadnotalreadylivedforsixmonthswithinprison—walls，Ishould，inspiteofMonsieurBonnet’sgrandwords——forhe，Icantrulysay，isthefatherofmysoul——Ishould，ah！Imusthaveflungmyselfintotheseaatthemeresightofmycompanions。Out—doorsIstillcouldlive;butinthebuilding，whethertosleeportoeat，——toeatoutofbuckets，andeachbucketfilledforthreecouples，——itwaslifenolonger，itwasdeath;theatrociousfacesandlanguageofmycompanionswerealwaysinsufferabletome。
　　Happily，fromfiveo’clockinsummer，andfromhalf—pastseveno’clockinwinterwewent，inspiteofheatorcoldandwindorrain，on’fatigue，’thatis，hard—labor。Thushalfthislifewasspentintheopenair;andtheairwassweetaftertheclosedormitorypackedwitheighthundredconvicts。Andthatair，too，issea—air！Wecouldenjoythebreezes，wecouldbefriendswiththesun，wecouldwatchthecloudsastheypassedaboveus，wecouldhopeandprayforfineweather！Asforme，Itookaninterestinmywork——"
　　Farrabeschestopped;twoheavytearswererollingdownhismistress’sface。
　　"Oh！madame，Ihaveonlytoldyouthebestsideofthatlife，"hecontinued，takingtheexpressionofherfaceasmeantforhim。"Theterribleprecautionstakenbythegovernment，theconstantspyingofthekeepers，theblacksmith’sinspectionofthechainseveryday，nightandmorning，thecoarsefood，thehideousgarmentswhichhumiliateamanatallhours，thecomfortlesssleep，thehorriblerattlingofeighthundredchainsinthatresoundinghall，theprospectofbeingshotorblowntopiecesbycannoniftenofthosevillainstookafancytorevolt，allthosedreadfulthingsarenothing，——
　　nothing，Itellyou;thatisthebrightsideonly。There’sanotherside，madame，andadecentman，abourgeois，woulddieofhorrorinaweek。Aconvictisforcedtolivewithanotherman;obligedtoendurethecompanyoffiveothermenateverymeal，twenty—threeinhisbedatnight，andtoheartheirlanguage！Thegreatsocietyofgalley—
　　slaves，madame，hasitssecretlaws;disobeythemandyouaretortured;obeythem，andyoubecomeatorturer。Youmustbeeithervictimorexecutioner。Iftheywouldkillyouatonceitwouldatleastbethecureoflife。Butno，theyarewiserthanthatindoingevil。Itisimpossibletoholdoutagainstthehatredofthesemen;
　　theirpowerisabsoluteoveranyprisonerwhodispleasesthem，andtheycanmakehislifeatormentfarworsethandeath。Themanwhorepentsandendeavorstobehavewellistheircommonenemy;aboveall，theysuspecthimofinforming;andaninformerisputtodeath，oftenonmeresuspicion。Everyhallandcommunityofeighthundredconvictshasitstribunal，inwhicharejudgedthecrimescommittedagainstthatsociety。Nottoobeytheusagesiscriminal，andamanisliabletopunishment。Forinstance，everymanmustco—operateinescapes;
　　everyconvicthashistimeassignedhimtoescape，andallhisfellow—
　　convictsmustprotectandaidhim。Torevealwhatacomradeisdoingwithaviewtoescapeiscriminal。Iwillnotspeaktoyouofthehorriblecustomsandmoralsofthegalleys。Nomanbelongstohimself;
　　thegovernment，inordertoneutralizetheattemptsatrevoltorescape，takespainstochaintwocontrarynaturesandintereststogether;andthismakesthetortureofthecouplingunendurable;menarelinkedtogetherwhohateordistrusteachother。"
　　"Howwasitwithyou？"askedMadameGraslin。
　　"Ah！there，"repliedFarrabesche，"Ihadluck;Ineverdrewalottokillaconvict;Ineverhadtovotethedeathofanyoneofthem;I
　　neverwaspunished;nomantookadisliketome;andIgotonwellwiththethreedifferentmenIwaschainedto;theyallfearedmebutlikedme。Onereasonwas，mynamewasknownandfamousatthegalleysbeforeIgotthere。A/chauffeur/！theythoughtmeoneofthosebrigands。Ihaveseen/chauffing/，"continuedFarrabescheafterapause，inalowvoice，"butInevereitherdiditmyself，ortookanyofthemoneyobtainedbyit。Iwasarefractory，Ievadedtheconscription，thatwasall。Ihelpedmycomrades，Ikeptwatch;Iwassentinelandbroughtuptherear—guard;butInevershedanyman’sbloodexceptinself—defence。Ah！ItoldalltoMonsieurBonnetandmylawyer，andthejudgesknewwellenoughthatIwasnomurderer。But，allthesame，Iamagreatcriminal;nothingthatIeverdidwasmorallyright。However，beforeIgotthere，asIwassaying，twoofmycomradestoldofmeasamanabletodogreatthings。Atthegalleys，madame，nothingissovaluableasthatreputation，notevenmoney。Inthatrepublicofmiserymurderisapassporttotranquillity。Ididnothingtodestroythatopinionofme。Iwassad，resigned，andtheymistooktheappearanceofit。Mygloomymanner，mysilence，passedforferocity。Allthatworld，convicts，keepers，youngandold，respectedme。Iwastreatedasfirstinmyhall。Nooneinterferedwithmysleep;Iwasneversuspectedofinforming;Ibehavedhonorablyaccordingtotheirideas;Ineverrefusedtodoservice;Inevertestifiedtheslightestrepugnance;Ihowledwiththewolvesoutside，IprayedtoGodwithin。Mylastcompanioninchainswasasoldier，twenty—twoyearsofage，whohadcommittedatheftanddesertedinconsequenceofit。Wewerechainedtogetherforfouryears，andwewerefriends;whereverImaybeIamcertaintomeethimwhenhistimeisup。Thispoordevil，whosenameisGuepin，isnotascoundrel，heismerelyheedless;hispunishmentmayreformhim。Ifmycomradeshaddiscoveredthatreligionledmetosubmittomytrials，——thatImeant，whenmytimewasup，tolivehumblyinacorner，lettingnooneknowwhereIwas，intendingtoforgettheirhorriblecommunityandnevertocrossthepathofanyofthem，——theywouldprobablyhavedrivenmemad。"
　　"Then，"saidMadameGraslin，"ifapooryoungman，atendersoul，carriedawaybypassion，havingcommittedamurder，wassparedfromdeathandsenttothegalleys——"
　　"Oh！madame，"saidFarrabesche，interruptingher，"thereisnosparinginthat。Thesentencemaybecommutedtotwentyyearsatthegalleys，butforadecentyoungman，thatisawful！Icouldnotspeaktoyouofthelifethatawaitshimthere;athousandtimesbetterdie。Yes，todieuponthescaffoldishappinessincomparison。"
　　"Idarednotthinkit，"murmuredMadameGraslin。
　　Shehadturnedaswhiteaswax。Tohideherfaceshelaidherforeheadonthebalustrade，andkeptitthereseveralminutes。Farrabeschedidnotknowwhetherheoughttogoorremain。
　　MadameGraslinraisedherheadatlast，lookedatFarrabeschewithanalmostmajesticair，andsaid，tohisamazement，inavoicethatstirredhisheart:——
　　"Thankyou，myfriend。But，"sheadded，afterapause，"wheredidyoufindcouragetoliveandsuffer？"
　　"Ah！madame，MonsieurBonnetputatreasurewithinmysoul！andforthatIlovehimbetterthanallelseonearth。"
　　"BetterthanCatherine？"saidMadameGraslin，smilingwithasortofbitterness。
　　"Almostaswell，madame。"
　　"Howdidhedoit？"
　　"Madame，thewordsandthevoiceofthatmanconqueredme。CatherinebroughthimtothatholeinthegroundIshowedyouonthecommon;hehadcomefearlesslyalone。Hewas，hesaid，thenewrectorofMontegnac;Iwashisparishioner，helovedme;heknewIwasonlymisguided，notlost;hedidnotintendtobetrayme，buttosaveme;
　　inshort，hesaidmanysuchthingsthatstirredmysoultoitsdepths。
　　Thatman，madame，commandsyoutodorightwithasmuchforceasthosewhotellyoutodowrong。Itwashewhotoldme，poordearman，thatCatherinewasamother，andthatIwasdoomingtwobeingstoshameanddesertion。’Well，’Isaidtohim，’theyarelikeme;Ihavenofuture。’HeansweredthatIhadafuture，twobadfutures，beforeme——
　　oneinanotherworld，oneinthisworld——ifIpersistedinnotchangingmywayoflife。Inthisworld，Ishoulddieonthescaffold。
　　IfIwerecapturedmydefencewouldbeimpossible。Onthecontrary，ifItookadvantageoftheleniencyofthenewgovernmenttowardallcrimestraceabletotheconscription，ifIdeliveredmyselfup，hebelievedhecouldsavemylife;hewouldengageagoodlawyer，whowouldgetmeoffwithtenyearsatthegalleys。ThenMonsieurBonnettalkedtomeoftheotherlife。CatherineweptliketheMagdalen——See，madame，"saidFarrabesche，holdingouthisrightarm，"herfacewasinthathand，andIfeltitwetwithtears。Sheimploredmetolive。
　　MonsieurBonnetpromisedtosecureme，whenIhadservedmysentence，apeacefullifeherewithmychild，andtoprotectmeagainstaffront。
　　Hecatechisedmeashewouldalittlechild。Afterthreesuchvisitsatnighthemademeassuppleasaglove。Wouldyouliketoknowhow，madame？"
　　FarrabescheandMadameGraslinlookedateachother，notexplainingtothemselvestheirmutualcuriosity。