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About him； above him； everywhere； he heard a continuous； tremendous；
confused rumble； composed of countless and different noises； a vague and
throbbing pulsation of life： the life breath of Paris； breathing like a
giant。
The sun was already high and shed a flood of light on the Bois de
Boulogne。 A few carriages were beginning to drive about and people were
appearing on horseback。
A couple was walking through a deserted alley。
Suddenly the young woman raised her eyes and saw something brown in the
branches。 Surprised and anxious； she raised her hand； exclaiming： 〃Look！
what is that？〃
Then she shrieked and fell into the arms of her companion； who was forced
to lay her on the ground。
The policeman who had been called cut down an old man who had hung
himself with his suspenders。
Examination showed that he had died the evening before。 Papers found on
him showed that he was a bookkeeper for Messieurs Labuze and Company and
that his name was Leras。
His death was attributed to suicide； the cause of which could not be
suspected。 Perhaps a sudden access of madness！
ALEXANDRE
At four o'clock that day； as on every other day； Alexandre rolled the
three…wheeled chair for cripples up to the door of the little house；
then； in obedience to the doctor's orders； he would push his old and
infirm mistress about until six o'clock。
When he had placed the light vehicle against the step； just at the place
where the old lady could most easily enter it； he went into the house；
and soon a furious； hoarse old soldier's voice was heard cursing inside
the house： it issued from the master； the retired ex…captain of infantry；
Joseph Maramballe。
Then could be heard the noise of doors being slammed； chairs being pushed
about； and hasty footsteps； then nothing more。 After a few seconds；
Alexandre reappeared on the threshold； supporting with all his strength
Madame Maramballe； who was exhausted from the exertion of descending the
stairs。 When she was at last settled in the rolling chair； Alexandre
passed behind it； grasped the handle； and set out toward the river。
Thus they crossed the little town every day amid the respectful greeting；
of all。 These bows were perhaps meant as much for the servant as for the
mistress； for if she was loved and esteemed by all； this old trooper；
with his long； white； patriarchal beard； was considered a model domestic。
The July sun was beating down unmercifully on the street； bathing the low
houses in its crude and burning light。 Dogs were sleeping on the
sidewalk in the shade of the houses； and Alexandre； a little out of
breath； hastened his footsteps in order sooner to arrive at the avenue
which leads to the water。
Madame Maramballe was already slumbering under her white parasol； the
point of which sometimes grazed along the man's impassive face。 As soon
as they had reached the Allee des Tilleuls； she awoke in the shade of the
trees； and she said in a kindly voice： 〃Go more slowly； my poor boy； you
will kill yourself in this heat。〃
Along this path； completely covered by arched linden trees； the Mavettek
flowed in its winding bed bordered by willows。
The gurgling of the eddies and the splashing of the little waves against
the rocks lent to the walk the charming music of babbling water and the
freshness of damp air。 Madame Maramballe inhaled with deep delight the
humid charm of this spot and then murmured： 〃Ah！ I feel better now！ But
he wasn't in a good humor to…day。〃
Alexandre answered： 〃No； madame。〃
For thirty…five years he had been in the service of this couple； first as
officer's orderly； then as simple valet who did not wish to leave his
masters； and for the last six years； every afternoon； he had been
wheeling his mistress about through the narrow streets of the town。 From
this long and devoted service； and then from this daily tete…a…tete； a
kind of familiarity arose between the old lady and the devoted servant；
affectionate on her part； deferential on his。
They talked over the affairs of the house exactly as if they were equals。
Their principal subject of conversation and of worry was the bad
disposition of the captain； soured by a long career which had begun with
promise； run along without promotion； end ended without glory。
Madame Maramballe continued： 〃He certainly was not in a good humor today。
This happens too often since he has left the service。〃
And Alexandre； with a sigh； completed his mistress's thoughts； 〃Oh；
madame might say that it happens every day and that it also happened
before leaving the army。〃
〃That is true。 But the poor man has been so unfortunate。 He began with
a brave deed； which obtained for him the Legion of Honor at the age of
twenty； and then from twenty to fifty he was not able to rise higher than
captain； whereas at the beginning he expected to retire with at least the
rank of colonel。〃
〃Madame might also admit that it was his fault。 If he had not always
been as cutting as a whip； his superiors would have loved and protected
him better。 Harshness is of no use； one should try to please if one
wishes to advance。 As far as his treatment of us is concerned； it is
also our fault； since we are willing to remain with him； but with others
it's different。〃
Madame Maramballe was thinking。 Oh； for how many years had she thus been
thinking of the brutality of her husband； whom she had married long ago
because he was a handsome officer； decorated quite young； and full of
promise； so they said！ What mistakes one makes in life！
She murmured： 〃Let us stop a while； my poor Alexandre； and you rest on
that bench：
It was a little worm…eaten bench； placed at a turn in the alley。 Every
time they came in this direction Alexandre was accustomed to making a
short pause on this seat。
He sat down and with a proud and familiar gesture he took his beautiful
white beard in his hand； and； closing his； fingers over it； ran them down
to the point； which he held for a minute at the pit of his stomach； as if
once more to verify the length of this growth。
Madame Maramballe continued： 〃I married him； it is only just and natural
that I should bear his injustice； but what I do not understand is why you
also should have supported it； my good Alexandre！〃
He merely shrugged his shoulders and answered： 〃Oh！ Imadame。〃
She added： 〃Really。 I have often wondered。 When I married him you were
his orderly and you could hardly do otherwise than endure him。 But why
did you remain with us； who pay you so little and who treat you so badly；
when you could have done as every one else does； settle down； marry； have
a family？〃
He answered： 〃Oh； madame！ with me it's different。〃
Then he was silent； but he kept pulling his beard as if he were ringing a
bell within him； as if he were trying to pull it out； and he rolled his
eyes like a man who is greatly embarrassed。
Madame Maramballe was following her own train of thought： 〃You are not a
peasant。 You have an education〃
He interrupted her proudly： 〃I studied surveying； madame。〃
〃Then why did you stay with us； and blast your prospects？〃
He stammered： 〃That's it！ that's it！ it's the fault of my