Within an Inch of His Life

e, "the best perhaps in the county," he said, as he got into his carriage. In ten minutes they had overtaken the firemen, who had left some time bef

alked, puffing and groaning, on the bad road, and pulling the two engines, toget

utes farther on, a peasant on horseback appeared in the dark, riding along li

Valpinson?" ask

plied the

s the

come to

s the doc

t to get some medicines." M. Galpin, to hear bet

accuse

N

the f

"but no engines: so what can they do? And the

nt, instead of going any faster, only reared, and jumped from side to side. The excellent man was in despair. He looked upon t

at a man should think of attacking the Count and the Countess Claudieuse, the most distinguished and the most

s in the road, M. Seneschal went on repeati

made admiral, when he had all of a sudden sent in his resignation, and taken up his residence at the Castle of Valpinson, although the house had nothing to show of its former splendor but two towers falling to pieces, and an immense mass of ruin and rubbish. For two years he had lived here alone,

al. The count looked like a gentleman, and was very well preserved; but he was at least forty-seven years old, and Miss Genevieve was hardly twenty. Now, if the bride had been poor, they would have understood the match, and approved it

ugly, infirm, or at least hunchback, perhaps i

was amazed at her noble, quiet beauty. She h

there was no lack of old ladies who shook their heads, and said twenty-seven years dif

ot a happier couple to be found than the Count and the Countess Claudieuse; and two children, girls, w

t the countess was as gentle and as sweet as he was violent; and as she never failed to step in between her husband and the object of his wrath, as both he and she were naturally just, kind to excess, and generous to all, they were beloved by everybody. There was only one point on which the count was rather un

and did not come to Sauveterre more than four times a year, to visit the Misses Lavarande, or the old Baron de Chandore. Every summer, towards the end of July, they went to Ro

t, he did not hesitate a moment to offer his sword to Gambetta, whom he detested. They made him colonel of a regiment; and he fought like a lion, from the first day to the last, when he was thrown down and trod under foot in one of those fearful routs in which a part of Chanzy's army was utterly destroyed

but very carelessly to these details, with which the

? I look and look; but I

"But we are quite near now, and, at the top

of such hard granite, that the engineers who laid out the great turnpike turned miles out of their way to avoid it. It overl

murmured t

citement. The short, square tower of Brechy sent the alarm from its big bell; and in the deep shade on all sides was heard the strange sound of the huge shells which the people here use fo

e for help," s

ere was no lack of hands or of good-will. At the first alarm, all the people of the neighborhood had hurried up, and there were more coming every moment; but there was no one there to assume the command. They were mainly engaged in saving the f

greeted the mayor

e peasants, encouraged by his pr

in the whole sit

farm buildings and the workshops are lost: we must give them up. Let us try to save the dwelling-house. The river i

the scene. Capt. Parenteau took the command. At last the

pointing at a little cottage with a thatched

tains filled one side: on that on the left hand lay a little girl, four years old, fast asleep, and rolled up in a blanket, watched over by her sister, who was two or three years older. On the other bed, Count Claudieuse was lying, or rather sitting; for they had supported his back by all the pillows th

ably composed and resigned. She was holding a lamp, and moved it to and fro as the doctor directed.

nful impressions, and entered the room. Count Cl

e nearer. You see the year 1871 is a fatal year. It will soon l

lent mayor; "but, after all, it is less than

I am sufferi

ntess t

pered in a tone of e

loved with more tenderness than

vieve, pardon me, if I s

and then he exclaimed in a loud v

under and lightni

orm here," replied t

not wa

to suffer, and keep quiet now; fo

od which spurted out from

s rest now. My eyes and my hand are e

, wiping, and putting back again his large gold spectacles. His reputation was widespread; and they told of wonderful cures which he had accomplished. Still he

said, "I drink to the memory of the only physician of whose pure and chaste

e small socialistic clubs in the neighborhood. People looked aghast when he began to talk of the reforms which he thought necessary;

the soundness of his mind. The most charitable said, "He is an oddity." This eccentric man had naturally no great fondness for M. Seneschal, the mayor, a former lawyer, and a legitimist

uzzling. I trust no vital part has been injured; but I cannot answer for any thing. I have often in my practice seen very small injuries, wounds caused

ay, if the magistrate had not s

The criminal has to be found out, and to be punished: hence I re