The Merry Men, and Other Tales and Fables

the poplars!-in how many village streets, tied to a gate-post! This sort of chariot is affected-particularly at the trot-by a kind of pitching movement to and fro across the ax

t appertain to glory; but I have no doubt it may be useful in live

top to toe in spotless linen, armed with an immense flesh-coloured umbrella, and girt with a botanical case on a baldric; and the equipage drove

n, softly murmuring cloud of congregated foliage overhead. In the arcades of the forest the air retained the freshness of the night. The athletic bearing of the trees, each carrying its leafy mountain, pleased the mind li

rd, Jean-Marie?' inquired

replied

vice; bidding him go from his book to praying, and so back again, for variety's sake, and when he was weary of both to stroll about his garden and observe the honey bees. It is to this day my own system. You must often have remarked me leaving the "Pharmacopoeia"-often even in the middle of a phrase-to come forth into the sun and air. I admire the writer of that letter from my heart; he was a man o

foon, of course,'

your profession,' said the Doctor, admir

other. 'I laugh often.

-priceless, we may say; exquisitely worked, of exquisite material. And now, mark me, they have never been found. In the reign of Louis Quatorze some fellows were digging hard by the ruins. Suddenly-tock!-the spade hit upon an obstacle. Imagine the men fooling one to another; imagine how their hearts bounded, how their colour came and went. It was a coffer, and in Franchard the place of buri

g into dust,' said Jean-Marie. 'Otherwi

ed; dresses and exquisite pictures unseen; the swiftest galloping horses not stirring a hoof, arrested by a spell; women with the beautiful faculty of smiles, not smiling; cards, dice, opera singing, orchestra

replied Jean-Marie

it is not "only money," as you call it; there are works of art in the question; the vessels were carved. You s

nothing to do with it,' re

ey had something on their minds. The Quadrilateral was passed; then came Franchard. They put up the horse at the little solitary inn, and went forth strolling. The gorge was dyed deeply with heather; the rocks and birches s

ell dead, and silence returned as though it had never been interrupted. He had not recognised the Doctor's voice; but, as there was no one else in all the valley, it was plainly the Doctor who had

ie, running towards him.

eft, and, advanced in silence to meet the

it,' he said

' asked J

' he repeated scornfully. 'Well-yes-a plant. And here,' he added suddenly, showing his

dirty platter,

d he. 'It i

, and disclosed a crevice; and when I looked in, what do you suppose I saw? I saw a house in Paris with a court and garden, I saw my wife shining

is it?' as

e whooped like an Indian and sprang upon Jean-Marie, whom he suffocated with embraces and bedewed w

the boulders, sprang into the niche, and, thrusting his hand into the crevice, drew forth one after another, encrusted with the ea

fun!'

lently observing, the words died from his lips. Desprez was once more the colou

the inn, harness the trap, and bring it to yon bank. Run for

e spot indicated; and the two gradually transported the treasure from its place of concealme

r of country wine! I am in the vein for sacrifice, for a superb libation. Well, and why not? We are at

nwholesome,' said Jean-Mar

claimed the Doctor

elastic, youthful air. The horse was turned, and in a few

near the table, so that we m

took a seat, rapped loudly on the table, assailed the waiter with witticisms; and when the bottle of Bass was at length produced, far more charged

' faltered the boy,

thundere

t,' said Jean-Mar

iercely; 'but understand it once for all-the

le the Doctor emptied and refilled his own, at first with clouded brow, but gradually yi

ds. The habit, indeed, is debasing; wine, the juice of the grape, is the true drink of the Frenchman, as I have often had occasion to point out; and I do not know that I

'I burn to be gone,' he said, looking at his watch. 'Good God, how slow you eat!' And

ed their places in the buggy, and Desprez, leaning luxuriously

leau?' repeat

ys measured,' said

ry movements of the vehicle, seemed to fall in tune with his golden meditations; with his head throw

h bonds; when we have added these spoils of the medi?val church to our stake in the Mahometan empire, little boy, we shall positively roll among doubloons, positively roll! Beautiful forest,' he cried, 'farewell! Though called to other scenes, I will not forget thee. Thy name is graven in my heart. Under the influence of prosperity I become dithyrambic, Jean-Marie. Such is the impulse of the natural soul; such was the constitution of prim?val man. And I-well, I will not refuse the credit-I have preserved

said

once more in possession of a modest competence; now that I have so long prepared myself in silent meditation, it becomes my superior duty to proceed to Paris. My scientific training, my undoubted command of language, mark me out for the service of my coun

y, his eyes fixed on the horse, his mind seething. It was all lost eloquence; no array of words could unsettle

absinthe with the nicety of old experience; in and out of shops, from which he returned laden with costly fruits, real turtle, a magnificent piece of silk for his wife, a preposterous cane for himself, and a kepi of the newest fashion for the bo

se, from that broad field of tree-tops; and even in the streets of the town, where the air had been baked all day between white walls, it came in whiffs and pulses, like a distant music. Half-way home, the last gold flic

to-morrow's sun was to inaugurate the new. 'Enough,' he cried, 'of this life of maceration!' His wife (still beautiful, or he was sadly partial) was to be no longer buried; she should now shine before society. Jean-Marie would find the world at his feet; the roads open to success, wealth, honour, and post-humous renown. 'And O

e boy said, almost with a sob-it

e unable to demand their restitution; we should have no title; we should be unable even to communicate with the police. Such is the monstrous condition of

een the rustling poplars, he prayed in his teeth, and whipped up the horse to an unusual speed. Surely

re was no one in the street, save three lounging landscape painters at Tentaillon's door. Jean-Marie opened the green gate and led in the horse and carriage; an

the Doctor, somewhat unsteadily ali

tereau to see her pa

. 'Here, quick, come near to me; I do not wish to spe

' repeate

inted wings. To-morrow Casimir will come; in a week we may be in Paris-happy at last! You shall have diamonds. Jean-Marie, take it out of the boot, with religious care, and bring it piece by piece into the dining-room. We shall have plate at table! Darling, hasten and prepare

me in a whirl,' she crie

cried the doctor; and he pushed her

himself a different scene-a more immediate pro

not, a second time, become the victim of a deleterious habit. He had his wine out of the cellar in a twinkling; he arranged the sacrificial vessels, some on the white table-cloth, some on the sideboard, still crusted with historic earth. He was in and out of the kitchen, plying Anastasie with vermouth, heating her with glimpses of the future,

ed and pledged each other. Their faces ran over with smiles; their eyes scattered sparkle

ot be a Red!' c

to the core,' re

t us-we shall find ourselve

e Doctor. 'Beauty and

forgotten how to

sh,' cried he. 'Yours has

red, your name in all the papers, that will be

chly scanning the syllables, 'once a w

e questioned, threaten

my political ho

she said, and g

ed it wi

ng country, this bright and quiet stream; he was to pass into the great city; his dear lady mistress was to move bedizened in saloons; his good, garrulous, kind-hearted master to become a brawling deputy; and both be lost for ever to Jean-Marie and their better selves. He knew his own defects; he knew he must sink into less and less consideration in the turmoil of a city life, sink more and more from the child into the servant. And he began dimly to believe the Doctor's prophecies of evil. H