The Honor of the Name

orning-the sacristan of the parish church at Sairmeuse sounded the three strokes of the bell wh

hurrying into the church-yard. The women were all in their bravest attire, with cunning little

barefooted, bringing their shoes in their hands, but pu

side to talk, seating themselves in the porch, or standi

custom in the ham

the news, the success or the failure of the crops; and, before the service ended,

the Sunday mass was only an excuse fo

ndeavored to put an end to this scandalous habit, as they termed it;

of the elevation of the Host, voices were hushed, heads uncover

t only, and conversation was immedia

usual animati

Between buyers and sellers, one did not overhear a single one of those interminable discussions

y sadness was visible upon each face; lips were placed cautio

elapsed since Louis XVIII. had been, for the second tim

d at Waterloo; twelve hundred thousand foreign soldiers desecrated th

airmeuse trembled with

allies, was no less to be dre

bon signified only a terrible b

some morsel of government land; and they were assured now that all estates were to be r

st of them clustered around a young man who, on

, he was recounting the shame

ctions at Orleans, and the pitiless requisiti

have delivered us, will not go so long as a shilling

nched fist menacingly at a white

e still listening to him with undiminished interest, when the sound of a

owd. The same fear stopped

cer? He had come, perhaps, to announce the arrival of his regiment,

se was not of

nd dirty blue linen blouse. He was urging forward, with repe

murmured one of the peasa

nother. "He seems to b

probably stolen the

he reputation Father Chupin

, but the truth was, that he held work in holy horror, and spent all his time in sleeping and idling about his hovel. Hence, ste

ll were the rightful property of others. Hunting and fishing at all se

ther Chupin was pursued and captured, as he was occasio

ge against anyone, he would be quite capable of lyin

d drawn rein at the in

e, and, crossing the squa

irst glance one would not have taken him for a scoundrel. His manner was humble, and even gentle; but the rest

individual would have been avoided; but cu

soon as he was within the sound of their v

the

t the country town of the arrondissement, Montaignac, a charming

that you bought the horse

y it; it was

his listeners could not repress a smile

, "in order that I might bring s

possession of

ty?" anxiously inquired

r to. This is the former lord of

said he

ere mis

you se

ouse this morning, when he called me. 'Here, old man,' he said, 'do you wish to do me a favor?' Naturally I replied: 'Yes.' Whereupon he placed a coin in my hand and said: 'Well! go and tell them to

him with pale cheeks and set teeth, Father Chupin preserve

uld have detected an ironical smile upon his

e had his revenge for all the slights and all the sc

from his lips, it was only because he was trying to pro

gent face, who, perhaps, read Father Chupi

matter to us?" he exclaimed. "Let him remain at the Hotel de F

arch of him," echoed the o

his head with affe

o that trouble," he replied; "he wi

o you

me: 'Above all, old man, explain to my friend Lacheneur that the duke has ord

all the peasants who had

nt here?" demanded t

o take them from those who have purchased them, if possible. From you, Rousselet, he will claim the meadows upon the Oiselle, which always yie

s young man who had interrupt

covered with briers; even a goat could not have found pasture there. We have cleared it of stones, we have scratched up the soil with our

not sa

ds? We have not stolen their lands, have we? The government offered th

eur de Sairmeuse is the

aroused the most noble sentiments o

were alike forgotten. The all-powerful

ouineau, "we should do well to

med the peasants;

lager who sometimes read the p

rbons Monsieur d'Escorval is of no account whatever? Fouche has him upon

n dampened th

t to Monsieur d'Escorval would, perhaps, do us more har

had forgotten

has no counsel to give us about this matter, he can, p

nce, the storm of anger he had aroused. In his secret heart he experienced t

ntiment of the infamous part h

ent, he assumed, for the t

se would trouble you? How much of his former domain do you all own between you? Almost nothing. A few fields and meadows

you mention is quadrupled, it is only because the land is now

district in commotion. In my opinion, he will dispossess only one of the owners of

knew with what complacency and eagerness they would accept

man; "Monsieur Lacheneur owns ne

able we can see there through the trees. He hunts in the forests which once belonged to the Ducs de Sairmeuse; he fishes in their lakes; he dr

rk; and when he passes, everyone must bow to the earth. If you kill so much as a sparrow upon his lands, as he says, he will cast you into prison. Ah, he has been fortunate. The emperor made him mayor. The Bourbons deprived him of hi

there would not be a poor man in the country; and yet, how some of her pe

ous young man spoke at

ed this affront which he would ne

sses and her fallals. I think that Monsieur Lacheneur ought to be very well content, even after he has restored to its former owner one-hal

ather Chupin appealed to envy. The

antage. The services were over, and t

man in question, with a young girl of

ght toward him, and brusqu

ned first so red, then so frightfully pale, tha

on, and without a word to the messenger, h

our horses, dashed through the village at a gallo

ve witnessed a si

dren together, and the four surrounded the carri

the Duc de