Within an Inch of His Life

g, the Paris suburb of Sauveterre, the principal and most densely populated suburb of t

ful citizens rush

irt sleeves, and bareheaded, who belabored a large gray mare

, formerly Imperial Street, crossed New-Market Square, and stopped at

eterre, M. Seneschal, a former lawyer,

nob, and began to ring so furiously, that, in

s eyes heavy with sleep, came and opened the

ve you taken too much wine? Don't you know

," replied the peasant i

hal was w

k in his hand, troubled, and unable to disguise his trouble, h

sfied tone. "What do you want of him at thi

t came up to him, and said, making no

you to send th

eng

once. Mak

r shook

a habit he had when he was a

have been embarr

night was nothing less than to frighten the poor people of Sauveterre, who had heard the drums beating the alarm but t

a serio

it be otherwise with such a wind as this,-a w

the mayor ag

of Sauveterre, that he was thus roused by a peasant, w

hastily called out the firemen, put himse

hree miles at double-quick, they found what? A wretched heap of straw, worth about

, when there was no reason for it, that, even when the wolf

d M. Seneschal: "

furious at all these dela

arns, outhouses, haystacks, the houses, the old castle, and every thing? If

ced by this name

in a half-stifled voice,

es

t Claudi

cour

ot say so at once?"

tated n

o beat the alarm instantly all over town. Then you run to Capt. Parenteau's, and explain to him what you have heard. Ask him to get the keys of the engine-house.-Wait!-when you have do

fast as he could, the mayor tu

d reassure the count. Tell them all to take cour

easant di

n," he said, "I have another c

What i

he doctor to g

Why? Has anyb

er, Count

ppose he rushed into

has been s

terre nearly dropp

he said. "Where

don't

ut

rn that was not on fire yet. There I saw him myself lying on the st

They have no

t dead whe

he cou

tion, "was in the barn on her knees by the count's side, washing

trembled wi

at has been commi

of c

it? What wa

is the q

uite violent, in fact; but still he is the b

ody kno

id any harm

s what

the co

nt eagerly, "she is

d to come to s

nds and beggars on the tramp. There is not a day on which a lot of ill-l

odded his hea

I came along, I made up my mind I would first get the

I shall see the attorney of the Commonwealth. Now go. Don't spare y

that unlucky day, when, all of a sudden, nine hundred militia-men fell upon him, and asked to be fed and lodged. W

d to do, and at that moment the beat of the

Seneschal: "let me find the carri

w a head popped out, full of curiosity or terror; on all

t forty years, with a cunning look in his eye, a permanent smile on his face, and a confirmed bachelor, with no small pride in his consistency. The good people of Sauveterre thought he did not look stern and solemn enough for his

" He was a passionate lover of fine books, rare editions, costly bindings, and fine illustrations; and much the larger part of his annual income of about ten thousand francs went to b

an hastened to put on his clothes, when his old housekeeper came in, quite

!" he said,

the mayor entere

me the meaning of all this n

virum, clango

f his voice one might have imagined it was he himself who had been afflic

my friend, keep cool! Remember that the poet advises

emento, reb

e men

et Valpinson on fire

t say so?

upi

erbum

euse has been shot, and by th

O

d I have only come here to report the matter officially to you, and to

erious appeal to stop at once

"Come, let us take measur

y this time become fully known everywhere. At first the news had been doubted; but when the doctor's cab had passed the crowd at full speed, escorted by a peasant on horseback, the reports were bel

n are

ll

at Count and Countess Claudieuse were in need-great

chal. "We shall overtake you on the way: M. Daubigeon

d not f

for them all over town: he was just appe

magistrate all over, from head to foot, and from the gaiters on his ankles to the light blonde whiskers on his face. Although he was quite young, yet no

on, and thought his brilliant ability wasted upon the prosecution of a chicken-thief or a poacher. But his almost desperate efforts to secure a better office had always

thrown out hints at a great match, which would shortly procure him that influence in high place

l make a tremendous noise." The mayor be

ou know. I met the peasant who had be

he commonwealth at

at once to the place where

gest it to you," re

es ought to

has just sen

that his cold impassiveness actual

een an attem

dent

ide, each one in his own line of duty, you

ed over the lips of th

I have never interfered with your duties and privileges. I am

senior, Pieri

eeps us here any longer. I am impatient to