the region and was brought up with them； and had； as they said； only
fled the conscription； all the women were on his side；and that's a
great deal； you know。〃
〃Is it really certain that Farrabesche did kill several persons？〃
asked Madame Graslin。
〃Yes； certain；〃 replied Colorat； 〃it is even said that it was he who
killed the traveller by the mail…coach in 1812； but the courier and
the postilion； the only witnesses who could have identified him； were
dead before he was tried。〃
〃Tried for the robbery？〃 asked Madame Graslin。
〃Yes； they took everything； amongst it twenty…five thousand francs
belonging to the government。〃
Madame Graslin rode silently after that for two or three miles。 The
sun had now set； the moon was lighting the gray plain； which looked
like an open sea。 Champion and Colorat began to wonder at Madame
Graslin； whose silence seemed strange to them； and they were greatly
astonished to see the shining track of tears upon her cheeks； her eyes
were red and full of tears； which were falling drop by drop as she
rode along。
〃Oh； madame；〃 said Colorat； 〃don't pity him！ The lad has had his day。
He had pretty girls in love with him； and now； though to be sure he is
closely watched by the police； he is protected by the respect and
good…will of the rector； for he has really repented。 His conduct at
the galleys was exemplary。 Everybody knows he is as honest as the most
honest man among us。 Only he is proud； he doesn't choose to expose
himself to rebuff； so he lives quietly by himself and does good in his
own way。 He has made a nursery of about ten acres for you on the other
side of the Roche…Vive； he plants in the forests wherever he thinks
there's a chance of making a tree grow； he trims the tree and cuts out
the dead wood； and ties it up into bundles for the poor。 All the poor
people know they can get their wood from him all cut and ready to
burn； so they go and ask him for it； instead of taking it themselves
and injuring your forest。 He is another kind of /chauffeur/ now； and
warms his poor neighbors to their comfort and not to their harm。 Oh；
Farrabesche loves your forest！ He takes care of it as if it were his
own property。〃
〃And he livesall alone？〃 exclaimed Madame Graslin； adding the two
last words hastily。
〃Excuse me； not quite alone； madame； he takes care of a boy about
fifteen years old；〃 said Maurice Champion。
〃Yes； that's so；〃 said Colorat； 〃La Curieux gave birth to the child
some little time before Farrabesche was condemned。〃
〃Is it his child？〃 asked Madame Graslin。
〃People think so。〃
〃Why didn't he marry her？〃
〃How could he？ They would certainly have arrested him。 As it was； when
La Curieux heard he was sentenced to the galleys the poor girl left
this part of the country。〃
〃Was she a pretty girl？〃
〃Oh！〃 said Maurice； 〃my mother says she was very like another girl who
has also left Montegnac for something the same reason；Denise
Tascheron。〃
〃She loved him？〃 said Madame Graslin。
〃Ha； yes！ because he /chauffed/； women do like things that are out of
the way。 However； nothing ever did surprise the community more than
that love affair。 Catherine Curieux lived as virtuous a life as a holy
virgin； she passed for a pearl of purity in her village of Vizay；
which is really a small town in the Correze on the line between the
two departments。 Her father and mother are farmers to the Messieurs
Brezac。 Catherine Curieux was about seventeen when Farrabesche was
sent to the galleys。 The Farrabesches were an old family from the same
region； who settled in the commune of Montegnac； they hired their farm
from the village。 The father and mother Farrabesche are dead； but
Catherine's three sisters are married； one in Aubusson； another in
Limoges； and a third in Saint…Leonard。〃
〃Do you think Farrabesche knows where Catherine Curieux is？〃 asked
Madame Graslin。
〃If he did know he'd break his parole。 Oh！ he'd go to her。 As soon as
he came back from the galleys he got Monsieur Bonnet to ask for the
little boy whom the grandfather and grandmother were taking care of；
and Monsieur Bonnet obtained the child。〃
〃Does no one know what became of the mother？〃
〃No one；〃 said Colorat。 〃The girl felt that she was ruined； she was
afraid to stay in her own village。 She went to Paris。 What is she
doing there？ Well； that's the question； but you might as well hunt for
a marble among the stones on that plain as look for her there。〃
They were now riding up the ascent to the chateau as Colorat pointed
to the plain below。 Madame Sauviat； evidently uneasy； Aline and the
other servants were waiting at the gate； not knowing what to think of
this long absence。
〃My dear；〃 said Madame Sauviat； helping her daughter to dismount； 〃you
must be very tired。〃
〃No； mother；〃 replied Madame Graslin； in so changed a voice that
Madame Sauviat looked closely at her and then saw the mark of tears。
Madame Graslin went to her own rooms with Aline； who took her orders
for all that concerned her personal life。 She now shut herself up and
would not even admit her mother； when Madame Sauviat asked to enter；
Aline stopped her； saying； 〃Madame has gone to sleep。〃
The next day Veronique rode out attended by Maurice only。 In order to
reach the Roche…Vive as quickly as possible she took the road by which
she had returned the night before。 As they rode up the gorge which
lies between the mountain peak and the last hill of the forest （for；
seen from the plain； the Roche…Vive looks isolated） Veronique
requested Maurice to show her the house in which Farrabesche lived and
then to hold the horses and wait for her； she wished to go alone。
Maurice took her to a path which led down on the other side of the
Roche…Vive and showed her the thatched roof of a dwelling half buried
in the mountain； below which lay the nursery grounds。 It was then
about mid…day。 A light smoke issued from the chimney。 Veronique
reached the cottage in a few moments； but she did not make her
presence known at once。 She stood a few moments lost in thoughts known
only to herself as she gazed on the modest dwelling which stood in the
middle of a garden enclosed with a hedge of thorns。
Beyond the lower end of the garden lay several cares of meadow land
surrounded by an evergreen hedge； the eye looked down on the flattened
tops of fruit trees； apple； pear； and plum trees scattered here and
there among these fields。 Above the house； toward the crest of the
mountain where the soil became sandy； rose the yellow crowns of a
splendid grove of chestnuts。 Opening the railed gate made of half…
rotten boards which enclosed the premises； Madame Graslin saw a
stable； a small poultry…yard and all the picturesque and living
accessories of poor homes； which have so much of rural poesy about
them。 Who could see without emotion the linen fluttering on the
hedges； the bunches of onions hanging from the eaves； the iron
saucepans drying in the sun； the wooden bench overhung with
honeysuckle； the stone…crop clinging to the thatch； as it does on the
roofs of nearly all the cottages in France； revealing a humble life
that is almost vegetative？
It was impossible for Veronique to come upon her keeper without his
receiving due notice； two fine hunting dogs began to bark as soon as
the rustling of her habit was heard on the dried leaves。 She took the
end of it over her arm and advanced toward the house。 Farrabesche and
his boy； who were sitting on a wooden bench outside the door； rose and
uncovered their heads； standing in a respectful attitude； but without
the least appearance of servility。
〃I have heard；〃 said Veronique； looking attentively at the boy； 〃that
you take much care of my interests； I wished to see your house and the
nurseries； and ask you a few questions relating to the improvements I
intend to make。〃
〃I am at madame's orders；〃 replied Farrabesche。
Veronique admired the boy； who had a charming face of a perfect oval；
rather sunburned and brown but very regular in features； the forehead
finely modelled； orange…colored eyes of extreme vivacity； black hair
cut straight across the brow and allowed to hang down on either side
of the face。 Taller than most boys of his age； the little fellow was
nearly five feet high。 His trousers； like his shirt； were of coarse
gray linen； his waistcoat； of rough blue cloth with horn buttons much
worn and a jacket of the cloth so oddly called Maurienne velvet； with
which the Savoyards like to clothe themselves； stout hob…nailed shoes；
and no stockings。 This costume was exactly like that of his father；
except that Farrabesche had on his head the broad…brimmed felt hat of
the peasantry； while the boy had only a brown woollen cap。
Though intelligent and animated； the child's face was instinct with
the gravity peculiar to all human beings of any age who live in
solitude； he seemed to put himself in harmony with the life and the
silence of the woods。 Both Farrabesche and his son were specially
developed on their physical side； possessing many of the
characteristics of savages；piercing sight； constant observation；
absolute self…control； a keen ear； wonderful agility； and an
intelligent manner of speaking。 At the first glance the boy gave his
father Madame Graslin recognized one of those unbounded affections in
which instinct blends with thought； and a most active happiness
strengthens both the will of the instinct and the reasoning of
thought。
〃This must be the child I have heard of；〃 said Veronique； motioning to
the boy。
〃Yes； madame。〃
〃Have you made no attempt to find his mother？〃 asked Veronique； making
a sign to Farrabesche to follow her a little distance。
〃Madame may not be aware that I am not allowed to go beyond the
district in which I reside。〃
〃Have you never received any news of her？〃
〃At the expiration of my term；〃 he answered； 〃I received from the
Commissioner a thousand francs； sent to him quarterly for me in little
sums which police regulations did not allow me to receive till the day
I left the galleys。 I think that Catherine alone would have thought of
me； as it was not Monsieur Bonnet who sent this money； therefore I
have kept it safely for Benjamin。〃
〃And Catherine's parents？〃
〃