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nevertheless born in Auvergne； and the /patois/ seemed to be the
mutual attraction； also she had the sturdy frame which enables women
to bear hard work。 In the first three years of their married life
Sauviat continued to do some peddling； and his wife accompanied him；
carrying iron or lead on her back； and leading the miserable horse and
cart full of crockery with which her husband plied a disguised usury。
Dark…skinned； high…colored； enjoying robust health； and showing when
she laughed a brilliant set of teeth； white； long； and broad as
almonds； Madame Sauviat had the hips and bosom of a woman made by
Nature expressly for maternity。
If this strong girl were not earlier married； the fault must be
attributed to the Harpagon 〃no dowry〃 her father practised； though he
never read Moliere。 Sauviat was not deterred by the lack of dowry；
besides； a man of fifty can't make difficulties； not to speak of the
fact that such a wife would save him the cost of a servant。 He added
nothing to the furniture of his bedroom where； from the day of his
wedding to the day he left the house； twenty years later； there was
never anything but a single four…post bed； with valance and curtains
of green serge； a chest； a bureau； four chairs； a table； and a
looking…glass； all collected from different localities。 The chest
contained in its upper section pewter plates； dishes； etc。； each
article dissimilar from the rest。 The kitchen can be imagined from the
bedroom。
Neither husband nor wife knew how to read；a slight defect of
education which did not prevent them from ciphering admirably and
doing a most flourishing business。 Sauviat never bought any article
without the certainty of being able to sell it for one hundred per
cent profit。 To relieve himself of the necessity of keeping books and
accounts； he bought and sold for cash only。 He had； moreover； such a
perfect memory that the cost of any article； were it only a farthing；
remained in his mind year after year； together with its accrued
interest。
Except during the time required for her household duties； Madame
Sauviat was always seated in a rickety wooden chair placed against the
corner pillar of the building。 There she knitted and looked at the
passers； watched over the old iron； sold and weighed it； and received
payment if Sauviat was away making purchases。 When at home the husband
could be heard at daybreak pushing open his shutters； the household
dog rushed out into the street； and Madame Sauviat presently came out
to help her man in spreading upon the natural counter made by the low
walls on either side of the corner of the house on the two streets；
the multifarious collection of bells； springs； broken gunlocks； and
the other rubbish of their business； which gave a poverty…stricken
look to the establishment； though it usually contained as much as
twenty thousand francs' worth of lead； steel； iron； and other metals。
Never were the former peddler and his wife known to speak of their
fortune； they concealed its amount as carefully as a criminal hides a
crime； and for years they were suspected of shaving both gold and
silver coins。 When Champagnac died the Sauviats made no inventory of
his property； but they rummaged； with the intelligence of rats； into
every nook and corner of the old man's house； left it as naked as a
corpse； and sold the wares it contained in their own shop。
Once a year； in December； Sauviat went to Paris in one of the public
conveyances。 The gossips of the neighborhood concluded that in order
to conceal from others the amount of his fortune； he invested it
himself on these occasions。 It was known later that； having been
connected in his youth with one of the most celebrated dealers in
metal； an Auvergnat like himself； who was living in Paris； Sauviat
placed his funds with the firm of Bresac； the mainspring and spine of
that famous association known by the name of the 〃Bande Noire；〃 which；
as we have already said； took its rise from a suggestion made by
Sauviat himself。
Sauviat was a fat little man with a weary face； endowed by Nature with
a look of honesty which attracted customers and facilitated the sale
of goods。 His straightforward assertions； and the perfect indifference
of his tone and manner； increased this impression。 In person； his
naturally ruddy complexion was hardly perceptible under the black
metallic dust which powdered his curly black hair and the seams of a
face pitted with the small…pox。 His forehead was not without dignity；
in fact； it resembled the well…known brow given by all painters to
Saint Peter； the man of the people； the roughest； but withal the
shrewdest； of the apostles。 His hands were those of an indefatigable
worker；large； thick； square； and wrinkled with deep furrows。 His
chest was of seemingly indestructible muscularity。 He never
relinquished his peddler's costume；thick； hobnailed shoes； blue
stockings knit by his wife and hidden by leather gaiters； bottle…green
velveteen trousers； a checked waistcoat； from which depended the brass
key of his silver watch by an iron chain which long usage had polished
till it shone like steel； a jacket with short tails； also of
velveteen； like that of the trousers； and around his neck a printed
cotton cravat much frayed by the rubbing of his beard。
On Sundays and fete…days Sauviat wore a frock…coat of maroon cloth； so
well taken care of that two new ones were all he bought in twenty
years。 The living of galley…slaves would be thought sumptuous in
comparison with that of the Sauviats； who never ate meat except on the
great festivals of the Church。 Before paying out the money absolutely
needed for their daily subsistence； Madame Sauviat would feel in the
two pockets hidden between her gown and petticoat； and bring forth a
single well…scraped coin；a crown of six francs； or perhaps a piece
of fifty…five sous；which she would gaze at for a long time before
she could bring herself to change it。 As a general thing the Sauviats
ate herrings； dried peas； cheese； hard eggs in salad； vegetables
seasoned in the cheapest manner。 Never did they lay in provisions；
except perhaps a bunch of garlic or onions； which could not spoil and
cost but little。 The small amount of wood they burned in winter they
bought of itinerant sellers day by day。 By seven in winter； by nine in
summer； the household was in bed； and the shop was closed and guarded
by a huge dog； which got its living from the kitchens in the
neighborhood。 Madame Sauviat used about three francs' worth of candles
in the course of the year。
The sober； toilsome life of these persons was brightened by one joy；
but that was a natural joy； and for it they made their only known
outlays。 In May； 1802； Madame Sauviat gave birth to a daughter。 She
was confined all alone； and went about her household work five days
later。 She nursed her child in the open air； seated as usual in her
chair by the corner pillar； continuing to sell old iron while the
infant sucked。 Her milk cost nothing； and she let her little daughter
feed on it for two years； neither of them being the worse for the long
nursing。
Veronique （that was the infant's name） became the handsomest child in
the L