original short stories-8- 第23部分

A　little　reassured；　she　closed。　　her　eyes；　when　from　quite　near　a　furious
voice；　the　thunderous　voice　of　the　drowned　man；　could　be　heard　crying：
〃Say！　when　in　the　name　of　all　that's　holy　are　you　going　to　get　up；　you
b？〃

She　jumped　out　of　bed；　moved　by　obedience；　by　the　passive　obedience　of　a
woman　accustomed　to　blows　and　who　still　remembers　and　always　will
remember　that　voice！　　She　said：　〃Here　I　am；　Patin；　what　do　you　want？〃

Put　Patin　did　not　answer。　　Then；　at　a　complete　loss；　she　looked　around
her；　then　in　the　chimney　and　under　the　bed　and　finally　sank　into　a　chair；
wild　with　anxiety；　convinced　that　Patin's　soul　alone　was　there；　near　her；
and　that　he　had　returned　in　order　to　torture　her。

Suddenly　she　remembered　the　loft；　in　order　to　reach　which　one　had　to　take
a　ladder。　　Surely　he　must　have　hidden　there　in　order　to　surprise　her。　　He
must　have　been　held　by　savages　on　some　distant　shore；　unable　to　escape
until　now；　and　he　had　returned；　worse　that　ever。　　There　was　no　doubting
the　quality　of　that　voice。　　She　raised　her　head　and　asked：　〃Are　you　up
there；　Patin？〃

Patin　did　not　answer。　　Then；　with　a　terrible　fear　which　made　her　heart
tremble；　she　climbed　the　ladder；　opened　the　skylight；　looked；　saw
nothing；　entered；　looked　about　and　found　nothing。　　Sitting　on　some　straw；
she　began　to　cry；　but　while　she　was　weeping；　overcome　by　a　poignant　and
supernatural　terror；　she　heard　Patin　talking　in　the　room　below。

He　seemed　less　angry　and　he　was　saying：　〃Nasty　weather！　　Fierce　wind！
Nasty　weather！　　I　haven't　eaten；　damn　it！〃

She　cried　through　the　ceiling：　〃Here　I　am；　Patin；　I　am　getting　your　meal
ready。　　Don't　get　angry。〃

She　ran　down　again。　　There　was　no　one　in　the　room。　　She　felt　herself
growing　weak；　as　if　death　were　touching　her；　and　she　tried　to　run　and　get
help　from　the　neighbors；　when　a　voice　near　her　cried　out：　〃I　haven't　had
my　breakfast；　by　G！〃

And　the　parrot　in　his　cage　watched　her　with　his　round；　knowing；　wicked
eye。　　She；　too；　looked　at　him　wildly；　murmuring：　〃Ah！　so　it's　you！〃

He　shook　his　head　and　continued：　〃Just　you　wait！　　I'll　teach　you　how　to
loaf。〃

What　happened　within　her？　　She　felt；　she　understood　that　it　was　he；　the
dead　man；　who　had　come　back；　who　had　disguised　himself　in　the　feathers　of
this　bird　in　order　to　continue　to　torment　her；　that　he　would　curse；　as
formerly；　all　day　long；　and　bite　her；　and　swear　at　her；　in　order　to
attract　the　neighbors　and　make　them　laugh。　　Then　she　rushed　for　the　cage
and　seized　the　bird；　which　scratched　and　tore　her　flesh　with　its　claws
and　beak。　　But　she　held　it　with　all　her　strength　between　her　hands。　　She
threw　it　on　the　ground　and　rolled　over　it　with　the　frenzy　of　one
possessed。　　She　crushed　it　and　finally　made　of　it　nothing　but　a　little
green；　flabby　lump　which　no　longer　moved　or　spoke。　　Then　she　wrapped　it
in　a　cloth；　as　in　a　shroud；　and　she　went　out　in　her　nightgown；　barefoot；
she　crossed　the　dock；　against　which　the　choppy　waves　of　the　sea　were
beating；　and　she　shook　the　cloth　and　let　drop　this　little；　dead　thing；
which　looked　like　so　much　grass。　　Then　she　returned；　threw　herself　on　her
knees　before　the　empty　cage；　and；　overcome　by　what　she　had　done；　kneeled
and　prayed　for　forgiveness；　as　if　she　had　committed　some　heinous　crime。






THE　PIECE　OF　STRING

It　was　market…day；　and　from　all　the　country　round　Goderville　the　peasants
and　their　wives　were　coming　toward　the　town。　　The　men　walked　slowly；
throwing　the　whole　body　forward　at　every　step　of　their　long；　crooked
legs。　　They　were　deformed　from　pushing　the　plough　which　makes　the　left…
shoulder　higher；　and　bends　their　figures　side…ways；　from　reaping　the
grain；　when　they　have　to　spread　their　legs　so　as　to　keep　on　their　feet。
Their　starched　blue　blouses；　glossy　as　though　varnished；　ornamented　at
collar　and　cuffs　with　a　little　embroidered　design　and　blown　out　around
their　bony　bodies；　looked　very　much　like　balloons　about　to　soar；　whence
issued　two　arms　and　two　feet。

Some　of　these　fellows　dragged　a　cow　or　a　calf　at　the　end　of　a　rope。　　And
just　behind　the　animal　followed　their　wives　beating　it　over　the　back　with
a　leaf…covered　branch　to　hasten　its　pace；　and　carrying　large　baskets　out
of　which　protruded　the　heads　of　chickens　or　ducks。　　These　women　walked
more　quickly　and　energetically　than　the　men；　with　their　erect；　dried…up
figures；　adorned　with　scanty　little　shawls　pinned　over　their　flat　bosoms；
and　their　heads　wrapped　round　with　a　white　cloth；　enclosing　the　hair　and
surmounted　by　a　cap。

Now　a　char…a…banc　passed　by；　jogging　along　behind　a　nag　and　shaking　up
strangely　the　two　men　on　the　seat；　and　the　woman　at　the　bottom　of　the
cart　who　held　fast　to　its　sides　to　lessen　the　hard　jolting。

In　the　market…place　at　Goderville　was　a　great　crowd；　a　mingled　multitude
of　men　and　beasts。　　The　horns　of　cattle；　the　high；　long…napped　hats　of
wealthy　peasants；　the　headdresses　of　the　women　came　to　the　surface　of
that　sea。　　And　the　sharp；　shrill；　barking　voices　made　a　continuous；　wild
din；　while　above　it　occasionally　rose　a　huge　burst　of　laughter　from　the
sturdy　lungs　of　a　merry　peasant　or　a　prolonged　bellow　from　a　cow　tied
fast　to　the　wall　of　a　house。

It　all　smelled　of　the　stable；　of　milk；　of　hay　and　of　perspiration；　giving
off　that　half…human；　half…animal　odor　which　is　peculiar　to　country　folks。

Maitre　Hauchecorne；　of　Breaute；　had　just　arrived　at　Goderville　and　was
making　his　way　toward　the　square　when　he　perceived　on　the　ground　a　little
piece　of　string。　　Maitre　Hauchecorne；　economical　as　are　all　true　Normans；
reflected　that　everything　was　worth　picking　up　which　could　be　of　any　use；
and　he　stooped　down；　but　painfully；　because　he　suffered　from　rheumatism。
He　took　the　bit　of　thin　string　from　the　ground　and　was　carefully
preparing　to　roll　it　up　when　he　saw　Maitre　Malandain；　the　harness　maker；
on　his　doorstep　staring　at　him。　　They　had　once　had　a　quarrel　about　a
halter；　and　they　had　borne　each　other　malice　ever　since。　　Maitre
Hauchecorne　was　overcome　with　a　sort　of　shame　at　being　seen　by　his　enemy
picking　up　a　bit　of　string　in　the　road。　　He　quickly　hid　it　beneath　his
blouse　and　then　slipped　it　into　his　breeches；　pocket；　then　pretended　to
be　still　looking　for　something　on　the　ground　which　he　did　not　discover
and　finally　went　off　toward　the　market…place；　his　head　bent　forward　and
his　body　almost　doubled　in　two　by　rheumatic　pains。

He　was　at　once　lost　in　the　crowd；　which　kept　moving　about　slowly　and
noisily　as　it　chaffered　and　bargained。　　The　peasants　examined　the　cows；
went　off；　came　back；　always　in　doubt　for　fear　of　being　cheated；　never
quite　daring　to　decide；　looking　the　seller　square　in　the　eye　in　the
effort　to　discover　the　tricks　of　the　man　and　the　defect　in　the　beast。

The　women；　having　placed　their　great　baskets　at　their　feet；　had　taken　out
the　poultry；　which　lay　upon　the　ground；　their　legs　tied　together；　with
terrified　eyes　and　scarlet　combs。

They　listened　to　propositions；　maintaining　their　prices　in　a　decided
manner　with　an　impassive　face　or　perhaps　deciding　to　accept　the　smaller
price　offered；　suddenly　calling　out　to　the　customer　who　was　starting　to
go　away：

〃All　right；　I'll　let　you　have　them；　Mait'　Anthime。〃

Then；　little　by　little；　the　square　became　empty；　and　when　the　Angelus
struck　midday　those　who　lived　at　a　distance　poured　into　the　inns。

At　Jourdain's　the　great　room　was　filled　with　eaters；　just　as　the　vast
court　was　filled　with　vehicles　of　every　sortwagons；　gigs；　chars…a…
bancs；　tilburies；　innumerable　vehicles　which　have　no　name；　yellow　with
mud；　misshapen；　pieced　together；　raising　their　shafts　to　heaven　like　two
arms；　or　it　may　be　with　their　nose　on　the　ground　and　their　rear　in　the
air。

Just　opposite　to　where　the　diners　were　at　table　the　huge　fireplace；　with
its　bright　flame；　gave　out　a　burning　heat　on　the　backs　of　those　who　sat
at　the　right。　　Three　spits　were　turning；　loaded　with　chickens；　with
pigeons　and　with　joints　of　mutton；　and　a　delectable　odor　of　roast　meat
and　of　gravy　flowing　over　crisp　brown　skin　arose　from　the　hearth；　kindled
merriment；　caused　mouths　to　water。

All　the　aristocracy　of　the　plough　were　eating　there　at　Mait'　Jourdain's；
the　innkeeper's；　a　dealer　in　horses　also　and　a　sharp　fellow　who　had　made
a　great　deal　of　money　in　his　day。

The　dishes　were　passed　round；　were　emptied；　as　were　the　jugs　of　yellow
cider。　　Every　one　told　of　his　affairs；　of　his　purchases　and　his　sales。
They　exchanged　news　about　the　crops。　　The　weather　was　good　for　greens；
but　too　wet　for　grain。

Suddenly　the　drum　began　to　beat　in　the　courtyard　before　the　house。　　Every
one；　except　some　of　the　most　indifferent；　was　on　their　feet　at　once　and
ran　to　the　door；　to　the　windows；　their　mouths　full　and　napkins　in　their
hand。

When　the　public　crier　had　finished　his　tattoo　he　called　forth　in　a　jerky
voice；　pausing　in　the　wrong　places：

〃Be　it　known　to　the　inhabitants　of　Goderville　and　in　general　to　all
persons　present　at　the　market　that　there　has　been　lost　this　morning　on
the　Beuzeville　road；　between　nine　and　ten　o'clock；　a　black　leather
pocketbook　containing　five　hundred　francs　and　business　papers。　　You　are
requested　to　return　it　to　the　mayor's　office　at　once　or　to　Maitre　Fortune
Houlbreque；　of　Manneville。　　There　will　be　twenty　francs　reward。〃

Then　the　man　went　away。　　They　heard　once　more　at　a　distance　the　dull
beating　of　the　drum　and　the　faint　voice　of　the　crier。　　Then　they　all
began　to　talk　of　this　incident；　reckoning　up　the　chances　which　Maitre
Houlbreque　had　of　finding　or　of　not　finding　his　pocketbook　again。

The　meal　went　on。　　They　were　finishing　their　coffee　when　the　corporal　of
gendarmes　appeared　on　the　threshold。

He　asked：

〃Is　Maitre　Hauchecorne；　of　Breaute；　here？〃

Maitre　Hauchecorne；　seated　at　the　other　end　of　the　table　answered：

〃Here　I　am；　here　I　am。〃

And　he　followed　the　corporal。

The　mayor　was　waiting　for　him；　seated　in　an　armchair。　　He　was　the　notary
of　the　place；　a　tall；　grave　man　of　pompous　speech。

〃Maitre　Hauchecorne；〃　said　he；　〃this　morning　on　the　Beuzeville　road；　you
were　seen　to　pick　up　the　pocketbook　lost　by　Maitre　Houlbreque；　of
Manneville。〃

The　countryman　looked　at　the　mayor　in　amazement　frightened　already　at
this　suspicion　which　rested