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inspiration； which determined her to put into her work that wonderful
perseverance displayed by Nature； of which she had herself already
given many proofs。
She fastened her horse to a tree and seated herself on a large rock；
letting her eyes rove over the broad expanse of barren plain； where
Nature seemed a step…mother；feeling in her heart the same stirrings
of maternal love with which at times she gazed upon her infant。
Prepared by this train of emotion； these half involuntary meditations
（which； to use her own fine expression； winnowed her heart）； to
receive the sublime instruction offered by the scene before her； she
awoke from her lethargy。
〃I understood then；〃 she said afterwards to the rector； 〃that our
souls must be ploughed and cultivated like the soil itself。〃
The vast expanse before her was lighted by a pale November sun。
Already a few gray clouds chased by a chilly wind were hurrying from
the west。 It was then three o'clock。 Veronique had taken more than
four hours to reach the summit； but； like all others who are harrowed
by an inward misery； she paid no heed to external circumstances。 At
this moment her being was actually growing and magnifying with the
sublime impetus of Nature itself。
〃Do not stay here any longer； madame；〃 said a man； whose voice made
her quiver； 〃or you will soon be unable to return； you are six miles
from any dwelling； and the forest is impassable at night。 But that is
not your greatest danger。 Before long the cold on this summit will
become intense； the reason of this is unknown； but it has caused the
death of many persons。〃
Madame Graslin saw before her a man's face； almost black with sunburn；
in which shone eyes that were like two tongues of flame。 On either
side of this face hung a mass of brown hair； and below it was a fan…
shaped beard。 The man was raising respectfully one of those enormous
broad…brimmed hats which are worn by the peasantry of central France；
and in so doing displayed a bald but splendid forehead such as we
sometimes see in wayside beggars。 Veronique did not feel the slightest
fear； the situation was one in which all the lesser considerations
that make a woman timid had ceased。
〃Why are you here？〃 she asked。
〃My home is near by；〃 he answered。
〃What can you do in such a desert？〃 she said。
〃I live。〃
〃But how？ what means of living are there？〃
〃I earn a little something by watching that part of the forest；〃 he
answered； pointing to the other side of the summit from the one that
overlooked Montegnac。 Madame Graslin then saw the muzzle of a gun and
also a game…bag。 If she had had any fears this would have put an end
to them。
〃Then you are a keeper？〃 she said。
〃No； madame； in order to be a keeper we must take a certain oath； and
to take an oath we must have civic rights。〃
〃Who are you； then？〃
〃I am Farrabesche；〃 he said； with deep humility； lowering his eyes to
the ground。
Madame Graslin； to whom the name told nothing； looked at the man and
noticed in his face； the expression of which was now very gentle； the
signs of underlying ferocity； irregular teeth gave to the mouth； the
lips blood…red； an ironical expression full of evil audacity； the dark
and prominent cheek…bones had something animal about them。 The man was
of middle height； with strong shoulders； a thick…set neck； and the
large hairy hands of violent men capable of using their strength in a
brutal manner。 His last words pointed to some mystery； to which his
bearing； the expression of his countenance； and his whole person； gave
a sinister meaning。
〃You must be in my service； then？〃 said Veronique in a gentle voice。
〃Have I the honor of speaking to Madame Graslin？〃 asked Farrabesche。
〃Yes； my friend；〃 she answered。
Farrabesche instantly disappeared； with the rapidity of a wild animal；
after casting a glance at his mistress that was full of fear。
XIII
FARRABESCHE
Veronique hastened to mount her horse and rejoin the servants； who
were beginning to be uneasy about her； for the strange unhealthiness
of the Roche…Vive was well known throughout the neighborhood。 Colorat
begged his mistress to go down into the little valley which led to the
plain。 It would be dangerous； he said； to return by the hills； or by
the tangled paths they had followed in the morning； where； even with
his knowledge of the country； they were likely to be lost in the dusk。
Once on the plain Veronique rode slowly。
〃Who is this Farrabesche whom you employ？〃 she asked her forester。
〃Has madame met him？〃 cried Colorat。
〃Yes； but he ran away from me。〃
〃Poor man！ perhaps he does not know how kind madame is。〃
〃But what has he done？〃
〃Ah！ madame； Farrabesche is a murderer；〃 replied Champion； simply。
〃Then they pardoned him！〃 said Veronique； in a trembling voice。
〃No； madame；〃 replied Colorat； 〃Farrabesche was tried and condemned to
ten years at the galleys； he served half his time； and then he was
released on parole and came here in 1827。 He owes his life to the
rector； who persuaded him to give himself up to justice。 He had been
condemned to death by default； and sooner or later he must have been
taken and executed。 Monsieur Bonnet went to find him in the woods； all
alone； at the risk of being killed。 No one knows what he said to
Farrabesche。 They were alone together two days； on the third day the
rector brought Farrabesche to Tulle； where he gave himself up。
Monsieur Bonnet went to see a good lawyer and begged him to do his
best for the man。 Farrabesche escaped with ten years in irons。 The
rector went to visit him in prison； and that dangerous fellow； who
used to be the terror of the whole country； became as gentle as a
girl； he even let them take him to the galleys without a struggle。 On
his return he settled here by the rector's advice； no one says a word
against him； he goes to mass every Sunday and all the feast…days。
Though his place is among us he slips in beside the wall and sits
alone。 He goes to the altar sometimes and prays； but when he takes the
holy sacrament he always kneels apart。〃
〃And you say that man killed another man？〃
〃One！〃 exclaimed Colorat； 〃he killed several！ But he is a good man all
the same。〃
〃Is that possible？〃 exclaimed Veronique； letting the bridle fall on
the neck of her horse。
〃Well； you see； madame；〃 said the forester； who asked no better than
to tell the tale； 〃Farrabesche may have had good reason for what he
did。 He was the last of the Farrabesches；an old family of the
Correze； don't you know！ His elder brother； Captain Farrabesche； died
ten years earlier in Italy； at Montenotte； a captain when he was only
twenty…two years old。 Wasn't that ill…luck？ and such a lad； too！ knew
how to read and write； and bid fair to be a general。 The family
grieved terribly； and good reason； too。 As for me； I heard all about
his death； for I was serving at that time under L'AUTRE。 Oh！ he made a
fine death； did Captain Farrabesche； he saved the army and the Little
Corporal。 I was then in the division of General Steingel； a German；
that is； an Alsacian；a famous good general but rather short…sighted；
and that was the reason why he was killed soon after Captain