horrible customs and morals of the galleys。 No man belongs to himself；
the government； in order to neutralize the attempts at revolt or
escape； takes pains to chain two contrary natures and interests
together； and this makes the torture of the coupling unendurable； men
are linked together who hate or distrust each other。〃
〃How was it with you？〃 asked Madame Graslin。
〃Ah！ there；〃 replied Farrabesche； 〃I had luck； I never drew a lot to
kill a convict； I never had to vote the death of any one of them； I
never was punished； no man took a dislike to me； and I got on well
with the three different men I was chained to； they all feared me but
liked me。 One reason was； my name was known and famous at the galleys
before I got there。 A /chauffeur/！ they thought me one of those
brigands。 I have seen /chauffing/；〃 continued Farrabesche after a
pause； in a low voice； 〃but I never either did it myself； or took any
of the money obtained by it。 I was a refractory； I evaded the
conscription； that was all。 I helped my comrades； I kept watch； I was
sentinel and brought up the rear…guard； but I never shed any man's
blood except in self…defence。 Ah！ I told all to Monsieur Bonnet and my
lawyer； and the judges knew well enough that I was no murderer。 But；
all the same； I am a great criminal； nothing that I ever did was
morally right。 However； before I got there； as I was saying； two of my
comrades told of me as a man able to do great things。 At the galleys；
madame； nothing is so valuable as that reputation； not even money。 In
that republic of misery murder is a passport to tranquillity。 I did
nothing to destroy that opinion of me。 I was sad； resigned； and they
mistook the appearance of it。 My gloomy manner； my silence； passed for
ferocity。 All that world； convicts； keepers； young and old； respected
me。 I was treated as first in my hall。 No one interfered with my
sleep； I was never suspected of informing； I behaved honorably
according to their ideas； I never refused to do service； I never
testified the slightest repugnance； I howled with the wolves outside；
I prayed to God within。 My last companion in chains was a soldier；
twenty…two years of age； who had committed a theft and deserted in
consequence of it。 We were chained together for four years； and we
were friends； wherever I may be I am certain to meet him when his time
is up。 This poor devil； whose name is Guepin； is not a scoundrel； he
is merely heedless； his punishment may reform him。 If my comrades had
discovered that religion led me to submit to my trials；that I meant；
when my time was up； to live humbly in a corner； letting no one know
where I was； intending to forget their horrible community and never to
cross the path of any of them；they would probably have driven me
mad。〃
〃Then；〃 said Madame Graslin； 〃if a poor young man； a tender soul；
carried away by passion； having committed a murder； was spared from
death and sent to the galleys〃
〃Oh！ madame；〃 said Farrabesche； interrupting her； 〃there is no sparing
in that。 The sentence may be commuted to twenty years at the galleys；
but for a decent young man； that is awful！ I could not speak to you of
the life that awaits him there； a thousand times better die。 Yes； to
die upon the scaffold is happiness in comparison。〃
〃I dared not think it；〃 murmured Madame Graslin。
She had turned as white as wax。 To hide her face she laid her forehead
on the balustrade； and kept it there several minutes。 Farrabesche did
not know whether he ought to go or remain。
Madame Graslin raised her head at last； looked at Farrabesche with an
almost majestic air； and said； to his amazement； in a voice that
stirred his heart：
〃Thank you； my friend。 But；〃 she added； after a pause； 〃where did you
find courage to live and suffer？〃
〃Ah！ madame； Monsieur Bonnet put a treasure within my soul！ and for
that I love him better than all else on earth。〃
〃Better than Catherine？〃 said Madame Graslin； smiling with a sort of
bitterness。
〃Almost as well； madame。〃
〃How did he do it？〃
〃Madame； the words and the voice of that man conquered me。 Catherine
brought him to that hole in the ground I showed you on the common； he
had come fearlessly alone。 He was； he said； the new rector of
Montegnac； I was his parishioner； he loved me； he knew I was only
misguided； not lost； he did not intend to betray me； but to save me；
in short； he said many such things that stirred my soul to its depths。
That man； madame； commands you to do right with as much force as those
who tell you to do wrong。 It was he who told me； poor dear man； that
Catherine was a mother； and that I was dooming two beings to shame and
desertion。 'Well；' I said to him； 'they are like me； I have no
future。' He answered that I had a future； two bad futures； before me
one in another world； one in this worldif I persisted in not
changing my way of life。 In this world； I should die on the scaffold。
If I were captured my defence would be impossible。 On the contrary； if
I took advantage of the leniency of the new government toward all
crimes traceable to the conscription； if I delivered myself up； he
believed he could save my life； he would engage a good lawyer； who
would get me off with ten years at the galleys。 Then Monsieur Bonnet
talked to me of the other life。 Catherine wept like the MagdalenSee；
madame；〃 said Farrabesche； holding out his right arm； 〃her face was in
that hand； and I felt it wet with tears。 She implored me to live。
Monsieur Bonnet promised to secure me； when I had served my sentence；
a peaceful life here with my child； and to protect me against affront。
He catechised me as he would a little child。 After three such visits
at night he made me as supple as a glove。 Would you like to know how；
madame？〃
Farrabesche and Madame Graslin looked at each other； not explaining to
themselves their mutual curiosity。
〃Well；〃 resumed the poor liberated convict； 〃when he left me the first
time； and Catherine had gone with him to show the way； I was left
alone。 I then felt within my soul a freshness； a calmness； a
sweetness； I had never known since childhood。 It was like the
happiness my poor Catherine had given me。 The love of this dear man
had come to /seek me/； that； and his thought for me； for my future；
stirred my soul to its depths； it changed me。 A light broke forth in
my being。 As long as he was there； speaking to me； I resisted。 That's
not surprising； he was a priest； and we bandits don't eat of their
bread。 But when I no longer heard his footsteps nor Catherine's； oh！ I
wasas he told me two days laterenlightened by divine grace。 God
gave me thenceforth strength to bear all；prison； sentence； irons；
parting； even the life of the galleys。 I believed in his word as I do
in the Gospel； I looked upon my sufferings as a debt I was bound to
pay。 When I seemed to suffer too much； I looked across ten years and
saw my home in the woods； my little Benjamin； my Catherine。 He kept
his word； that good Monsieur Bonnet。 But one thing was lacking。 When
at last I was released； Catherine was not at the gate of the galleys；
she was not on the common。 No doubt she has died of grief。 That is why
I am always sad。 Now； thanks to you； I shall have useful work to do； I
can employ both body and soul；and my boy； too； for whom I live。〃
〃I begin to understand how it is that the rector has changed the
character of this whole community；〃 said Madame Graslin。
〃Nothing can resist him；〃 said Farrabesche。
〃Yes； yes； I know it！〃 replied Veronique； hastily； making a gesture of
farewell to her keeper。
Farrabesche withdrew。 Veronique remained alone on the terrace for a
good part of the day； walking up and down in spite of a fine rain
which fell till evening。 When her face was thus convulsed； neither her
mother nor Aline dared to interrupt her。 She did not notice in the
dusk that her mother was talking in the salon to Monsieur Bonnet； the
old woman； anxious to put an end to this fresh attack of dreadful
depression； sent little Francis to fetch her。 The child took his
mother's hand and led her in。 When she saw the rector she gave a start
of surprise in which there seemed to be some fear。 Monsieur Bonnet
took her back to the terrace； saying：
〃Well； madame； what were you talking about with Farrabesche？〃
In order not to speak falsely； Veronique evaded a reply； she
questioned Monsieur Bonnet。
〃That man was your first victory here； was he not？〃 she said。
〃Yes；〃 he answered； 〃his conversion would； I thought； give me all
Montegnacand I was not mistaken。〃
Veronique pressed Monsieur Bonnet's hand and said； with tears in her
voice； 〃I am your penitent from this day forth； monsieur； I shall go
to…morrow to the confessional。〃
Her last words showed a great internal effort； a terrible victory won
over herself。 The rector brought her back to the house without saying
another word。 After that he remained till dinner…time； talking about
the proposed improvements at Montegnac。
〃Agriculture is a question of time；〃 he said； 〃the little that I know
of it makes me understand what a gain it would be to get some good out
of the winter。 The rains are now beginning； and the mountains will
soon be covered with snow； your operations cannot then be begun。 Had
you not better hasten Monsieur Grossetete？〃
Insensibly； Monsieur Bonnet； who at first did all the talking； led
Madame Graslin to join in the conversation and so distract her
thoughts； in fact； he left her almost recovered from the emotions of
the day。 Madame Sauviat； however； thought her daughter too violently
agitated to be left alone； and she spent the night in her room。
XVI
CONCERNS ONE OF THE BLUNDERS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
The following day an express； sent from Limoges by Monsieur Grossetete
to Madame Graslin； brought her the following letter：
To Madame Graslin：
My dear Child；It was difficult to find horses； but I hope you
are satisfied with those I sent you。 If you want work or draft
horses； you must look elsewhere。 In any case； however； I advise
you to do your tilling and transportation with oxen。 All the
countries where agriculture is carried on with horses lose capital
when the horse is past work； whereas cattle a