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behind falsehood； go on a step； turn round； and then you'll see it。〃
This little outburst of the good rector had the effect of changing the
conversation。
XVIII
CATHERINE CURIEUX
Before taking his departure the next day； Monsieur Grossetete promised
Veronique to associate himself in all her plans； as soon as the
realization of them was a practicable thing。 Madame Graslin and Gerard
accompanied his carriage on horseback； and did not leave him till they
reached the junction of the high…road of Montegnac with that from
Bordeaux to Lyon。 The engineer was so impatient to see the land he was
to reclaim； and Veronique was so impatient to show it to him； that
they had planned this expedition the evening before。
After bidding adieu to the kind old man； they turned off the road
across the vast plain； and skirted the mountain chain from the foot of
the rise which led to the chateau to the steep face of the Roche…Vive。
The engineer then saw plainly the shelf or barricade of rock mentioned
by Farrabesche； which forms； as it were； the lowest foundation of the
hills。 By so directing the water that it should not overflow the
indestructible canal which Nature had built； and by clearing out the
accumulation of earth which choked it up； irrigation would be helped
rather than hindered by this natural sluice…way； which was raised； on
an average； ten feet above the plain。 The first important point was to
estimate the amount of water flowing through the Gabou； and to make
sure whether or not the slopes of the valley allowed any to escape in
other directions。
Veronique gave Farrabesche a horse； and directed him to accompany the
engineer and to explain to him everything he had himself noticed。
After several days' careful exploration； Gerard found that the base of
the two parallel slopes was sufficiently solid； though different in
composition； to hold the water； allowing none to escape。 During the
month of January； which was rainy； he estimated the quantity of water
flowing through the Gabou。 This quantity； added to that of three
streams which could easily be led into it； would supply water enough
to irrigate a tract of land three times as extensive as the plain of
Montegnac。 The damming of the Gabou and the works necessary to direct
the water of the three valleys to the plain； ought not to cost more
than sixty thousand francs； for the engineer discovered on the commons
a quantity of calcareous soil which would furnish the lime cheaply；
the forest was close at hand； the wood and stone cost nothing； and the
transportation was trifling。 While awaiting the season when the Gabou
would be dry （the only time suitable for the work） all the necessary
preparations could be made so as to push the enterprise through
rapidly when it was once begun。
But the preparation of the plain was another thing； that according to
Gerard； would cost not less than two hundred thousand francs； without
including the sowing and planting。 The plain was to be divided into
square compartments of two hundred and fifty acres each； where the
ground had to be cleared； not only of its stunted growths； but of
rocks。 Laborers would have to dig innumerable trenches； and stone them
up so as to let no water run to waste； also to direct its flow at
will。 This part of the enterprise needed the active and faithful arms
of conscientious workers。 Chance provided them with a tract of land
without natural obstacles； a long even stretch of plain； where the
waters； having a fall of ten feet； could be distributed at will。
Nothing hindered the finest agricultural results； while at the same
time； the eye would be gratified by one of those magnificent sheets of
verdure which are the pride and the wealth of Lombardy。 Gerard sent
for an old and experienced foreman； who had already been employed by
him elsewhere in this capacity； named Fresquin。
Madame Graslin wrote to Grossetete； requesting him to negotiate for
her a loan of two hundred and fifty thousand francs； secured on her
income from the Funds； which； if relinquished for six years； would be
enough to pay both capital and interest。 This loan was obtained in
March。 By this time the preliminary preparations carried on by Gerard
and his foreman； Fresquin； were fully completed； also； the surveying；
estimating； levelling； and sounding。 The news of this great enterprise
spreading about the country； stimulated the laboring population。 The
indefatigable Farrabesche； Colorat； Clousier； the mayor of Montegnac；
Roubaud； and others； interested either in the welfare of the
neighborhood or in Madame Graslin； selected such of these laborers as
seemed the poorest； or were most deserving of employment。 Gerard
bought for himself and for Monsieur Grossetete a thousand acres on the
other side of the high…road to Montegnac。 Fresquin； the foreman；
bought five hundred； and sent for his wife and children。
Early in April； 1832； Monsieur Grossetete came to see the land bought
for him by Gerard； though his journey was chiefly occasioned by the
advent of Catherine Curieux； who had come from Paris to Limoges by the
diligence。 Grossetete now brought her with him to Montegnac。 He found
Madame Graslin just starting for church。 Monsieur Bonnet was to say a
mass to implore the blessing of heaven on the works that were then
beginning。 All the laborers with their wives and children were
present。
〃Here is your protegee；〃 said the old gentleman； presenting to
Veronique a feeble； suffering woman； apparently about thirty years of
age。
〃Are you Catherine Curieux？〃 asked Madame Graslin。
〃Yes； madame。〃
Veronique looked at Catherine for a moment。 She was rather tall； well…
made； and fair； her features wore an expression of extreme gentleness
which the beautiful gray tones of the eyes did not contradict。 The
outline of the face； the shape of the brow had a nobility both simple
and august； such as we sometimes meet with in country regions among
very young girls；a sort of flower of beauty； which field labors； the
constant cares of the household； the burning of the sun； and want of
personal care； remove with terrible rapidity。 Her movements had that
ease of motion characteristic of country girls； to which certain
habits unconsciously contracted in Paris gave additional grace。 If
Catherine had remained in the Correze she would by this time have
looked like an old woman； wrinkled and withered； her complexion； once
rosy； would have coarsened； but Paris； though it paled her； had
preserved her beauty。 Illness； toil； and grief had endowed her with
the mysterious gifts of melancholy； the inward vitalizing thought；
which is lacking to poor country…folk whose lives are almost animal。
Her dress； full of that Parisian taste which all women； even the least
coquettish； contract so readily； distinguished her still further from
an ordinary peasant…woman。 In her ignorance as to what was before her；
and having no means of judging Madame Graslin； she appeared very shy
and shame…faced。
〃Do you still love Farrabesche？〃 asked Veronique； when Grossetete left
them for a moment。
〃Yes； madame；〃 she replied coloring。
〃Why； then； having sent him a thousand francs during his imprisonment；