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〃And why that？〃 asked the smith。
The child replied in all innocence：
〃Because you are not my mamma's husband。〃
No one laughed。 Philip remained standing； leaning his forehead
upon the back of his great hands； which held the handle of his
hammer upright upon the anvil。 He mused。 His four companions
watched him； and； like a tiny mite among these giants； Simon
anxiously waited。 Suddenly； one of the smiths； voicing the
sentiment of all； said to Philip：
〃All the same La Blanchotte is a good and honest girl； stalwart
and steady in spite of her misfortune； and one who would make a
worthy wife for an honest man。〃
〃That is true；〃 remarked the three others。 The smith continued：
〃Is it the girl's fault if she has fallen？ She had been promised
marriage； and I know more than one who is much respected to…day
and has sinned every bit as much。〃
〃That is true；〃 responded the three men in chorus。
He resumed：
〃How hard she has toiled； poor thing； to educate her lad all
alone； and how much she has wept since she no longer goes out；
save to church； God only knows。〃
〃That also is true；〃 said the others。
Then no more was heard save the roar of the bellows which fanned
the fire of the furnace。 Philip hastily bent himself down to
Simon：
〃Go and tell your mamma that I shall come to speak to her。〃
Then he pushed the child out by the shoulders。 He returned to his
work and in unison the five hammers again fell upon their anvils。
Thus they wrought the iron until nightfall； strong； powerful；
happy； like Vulcans satisfied。 But as the great bell of a
cathedral resounds upon feast days above the jingling of the
other bells； so Philip's hammer； dominating the noise of the
others； clanged second after second with a deafening uproar。 His
eye on the fire； he plied his trade vigorously； erect amid the
sparks。
The sky was full of stars as he knocked at La Blanchotte's door。
He had his Sunday blouse on； a fresh shirt； and his beard was
trimmed。 The young woman showed herself upon the threshold and
said in a grieved tone：
〃It is ill to come thus when night has fallen； Mr。 Philip。〃
He wished to answer； but stammered and stood confused before her。
She resumed：
〃And you understand quite well that it will not do that I should
be talked about any more。〃
Then he said all at once：
〃What does that matter to me； if you will be my wife！〃
No voice replied to him； but he believed that he heard in the
shadow of the room the sound of a body falling。 He entered very
quickly； and Simon； who had gone to his bed； distinguished the
sound of a kiss and some words that his mother said very softly。
Then he suddenly found himself lifted up by the hands of his
friend； who； holding him at the length of his herculean arms；
exclaimed to him：
〃You will tell your school…fellows that your papa is Philip Remy；
the blacksmith； and that he will pull the ears of all who do you
any harm。〃
On the morrow； when the school was full and lessons were about to
begin； little Simon stood up quite pale with trembling lips：
〃My papa；〃 said he in a clear voice； 〃is Philip Remy； the
blacksmith； and he has promised to box the ears of all who do me
any harm。〃
This time no one laughed any longer； for he was very well known；
was Philip Remy； the blacksmith； and he was a papa of whom anyone
in the world would be proud。
WAITER； A 〃BOCK〃＇1＇
＇1＇ Bavarian beer。
Why on this particular evening； did I enter a certain beer shop？
I cannot explain it。 It was bitterly cold。 A fine rain； a watery
mist floated about； veiling the gas jets in a transparent fog；
making the pavements under the shadow of the shop fronts glitter；
which revealed the soft slush and the soiled feet of the
passers…by。
I was going nowhere in particular； was simply having a short walk
after dinner。 I had passed the Credit Lyonnais； the Rue Vivienne；
and several other streets。 Suddenly I descried a large cafe；
which was more than half full。 I walked inside； with no object in
mind。 I was not the least thirsty。
By a searching glance I detected a place where I would not be too
much crowded。 So I went and sat down by the side of a man who
seemed to me to be old； and who smoked a half…penny clay pipe；
which had become as black as coal。 From six to eight beer
saucers were piled up on the table in front of him； indicating
the number of 〃bocks〃 he had already absorbed。 With that same
glance I had recognized in him a 〃regular toper；〃 one of those
frequenters of beer…houses； who come in the morning as soon as
the place is open； and only go away in the evening when it is
about to close。 He was dirty； bald to about the middle of the
cranium； while his long gray hair fell over the neck of his frock
coat。 His clothes； much too large for him； appeared to have been
made for him at a time when he was very stout。 One could guess
that his pantaloons were not held up by braces； and that this man
could not take ten paces without having to pull them up and
readjust them。 Did he wear a vest？ The mere thought of his boots
and the feet they enveloped filled me with horror。 The frayed
cuffs were as black at the edges as were his nails。
As soon as I had sat down near him； this queer creature said to
me in a tranquil tone of voice：
〃How goes it with you？〃
I turned sharply round to him and closely scanned his features；
whereupon he continued：
〃I see you do not recognize me。〃
〃No； I do not。〃
〃Des Barrets。〃
I was stupefied。 It was Count Jean des Barrets； my old college
chum。
I seized him by the hand； so dumfounded that I could find nothing
to say。 I； at length； managed to stammer out：
〃And you； how goes it with you？〃
He responded placidly：
〃With me？ Just as I like。〃
He became silent。 I wanted to be friendly； and I selected this
phrase：
〃What are you doing now？〃
〃You see what I am doing；〃 he answered； quite resignedly。
I felt my face getting red。 I insisted：
〃But every day？〃
〃Every day is alike to me；〃 was his response； accompanied with a
thick puff of tobacco smoke。
He then tapped on the top of the marble table with a sou； to
attract the attention of the waiter； and called out：
〃Waiter； two 'bocks。' 〃
A voice in the distance repeated：
〃Two 'bocks；' instead of four。〃
Another voice； more distant still； shouted out：
〃Here they are； sir； here they are。〃
Immediately there appeared a man with a white apron； carrying two
'bocks；' which he set down foaming on the table； the foam running
over the edge； on to the sandy floor。
Des Barrets emptied his glass at a single draught and replaced it
on the table； sucking in the drops of beer that had been left on
his mustache。 He next asked：
〃What is there new？〃
〃I know of nothing new； worth mentioning； really；〃 I stammered：
〃But nothing has grown old for me； I am a commercial man。〃
In an equable tone of voice； he said：
〃Indeeddoes that amuse you？〃
〃No； but what do you mean by that？ Surely you must do something！〃
〃What do you mean by that？〃
〃I only mean； how do you pass your time！〃
〃What's the use of occupying myself with anything。 For my part； I
do nothing at all； as you see； never anything。 Whe