original short stories-8-第16节

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Night　came　on　and　wrapped　the　country　in　obscurity；　and　in　the　distance；
in　a　meadow；　he　saw　a　dark　spot　on　the　grass；　it　was　a　cow；　and　so　he　got
over　the　ditch　by　the　roadside　and　went　up　to　her　without　exactly　knowing
what　he　was　doing。　　When　he　got　close　to　her　she　raised　her　great　head　to
him；　and　he　thought：　〃If　I　only　had　a　jug　I　could　get　a　little　milk。〃　　He
looked　at　the　cow　and　the　cow　looked　at　him　and　then；　suddenly　giving　her
a　kick　in　the　side；　he　said：　〃Get　up！〃

The　animal　got　up　slowly；　letting　her　heavy　udders　bang　down。　　Then　the
man　lay　down　on　his　back　between　the　animal's　legs　and　drank　for　a　long
time；　squeezing　her　warm；　swollen　teats；　which　tasted　of　the　cowstall；
with　both　hands；　and　he　drank　as　long　as　she　gave　any　milk。　　But　the　icy
rain　began　to　fall　more　heavily；　and　he　saw　no　place　of　shelter　on　the
whole　of　that　bare　plain。　　He　was　cold；　and　he　looked　at　a　light　which
was　shining　among　the　trees　in　the　window　of　a　house。

The　cow　had　lain　down　again　heavily；　and　he　sat　down　by　her　side　and
stroked　her　head；　grateful　for　the　nourishment　she　had　given　him。　　The
animal's　strong；　thick　breath；　which　came　out　of　her　nostrils　like　two
jets　of　steam　in　the　evening　air；　blew　on　the　workman's　face；　and　he
said：　〃You　are　not　cold　inside　there！〃　He　put　his　hands　on　her　chest　and
under　her　stomach　to　find　some　warmth　there；　and　then　the　idea　struck　him
that　he　might　pass　the　night　beside　that　large；　warm　animal。　　So　he　found
a　comfortable　place　and　laid　his　head　on　her　side；　and　then；　as　he　was
worn　out　with　fatigue；　fell　asleep　immediately。

He　woke　up；　however；　several　times；　with　his　back　or　his　stomach　half
frozen；　according　as　he　put　one　or　the　other　against　the　animal's　flank。
Then　he　turned　over　to　warm　and　dry　that　part　of　his　body　which　had
remained　exposed　to　the　night　air；　and　soon　went　soundly　to　sleep　again。
The　crowing　of　a　cock　woke　him；　the　day　was　breaking；　it　was　no　longer
raining；　and　the　sky　was　bright。　　The　cow　was　resting　with　her　muzzle　on
the　ground；　and　he　stooped　down；　resting　on　his　hands；　to　kiss　those
wide；　moist　nostrils；　and　said：　〃Good…by；　my　beauty；　until　next　time。
You　are　a　nice　animal。　　Good…by。〃　　Then　he　put　on　his　shoes　and　went　off；
and　for　two　hours　walked　straight　before　him；　always　following　the　same
road；　and　then　he　felt　so　tired　that　he　sat　down　on　the　grass。　　It　was
broad　daylight　by　that　time；　and　the　church　bells　were　ringing；　men　in
blue　blouses；　women　in　white　caps；　some　on　foot；　some　in　carts；　began　to
pass　along　the　road；　going　to　the　neighboring　villages　to　spend　Sunday
with　friends　or　relations。

A　stout　peasant　came　in　sight；　driving　before　him　a　score　of　frightened；
bleating　sheep；　with　the　help　of　an　active　dog。　　Randel　got　up；　and
raising　his　cap；　said：　〃You　do　not　happen　to　have　any　work　for　a　man　who
is　dying　of　hunger？〃　But　the　other；　giving　an　angry　look　at　the　vagabond；
replied：　〃I　have　no　work　for　fellows　whom　I　meet　on　the　road。〃

And　the　carpenter　went　back　and　sat　down　by　the　side　of　the　ditch　again。
He　waited　there　for　a　long　time；　watching　the　country　people　pass　and
looking　for　a　kind；　compassionate　face　before　he　renewed　his　request；　and
finally　selected　a　man　in　an　overcoat；　whose　stomach　was　adorned　with　a
gold　chain。　　〃I　have　been　looking　for　work；〃　he　said；　〃for　the　last　two
months　and　cannot　find　any；　and　I　have　not　a　sou　in　my　pocket。〃　　But　the
would…be　gentleman　replied：　〃You　should　have　read　the　notice　which　is
stuck　up　at　the　entrance　to　the　village：　'Begging　is　prohibited　within
the　boundaries　of　this　parish。'　Let　me　tell　you　that　I　am　the　mayor；　and
if　you　do　not　get　out　of　here　pretty　quickly　I　shall　have　you　arrested。〃

Randel；　who　was　getting　angry；　replied：　〃Have　me　arrested　if　you　like；　I
should　prefer　it；　for；　at　any　rate；　I　should　not　die　of　hunger。〃　　And　he
went　back　and　sat　down　by　the　side　of　his　ditch　again；　and　in　about　a
quarter　of　an　hour　two　gendarmes　appeared　on　the　road。　　They　were　walking
slowly　side　by　side；　glittering　in　the　sun　with　their　shining　hats；　their
yellow　accoutrements　and　their　metal　buttons；　as　if　to　frighten
evildoers；　and　to　put　them　to　flight　at　a　distance。　　He　knew　that　they
were　coming　after　him；　but　he　did　not　move；　for　he　was　seized　with　a
sudden　desire　to　defy　them；　to　be　arrested　by　them；　and　to　have　his
revenge　later。

They　came　on　without　appearing　to　have　seen　him；　walking　heavily；　with
military　step；　and　balancing　themselves　as　if　they　were　doing　the　goose
step；　and　then；　suddenly；　as　they　passed　him；　appearing　to　have　noticed
him；　they　stopped　and　looked　at　him　angrily　and　threateningly；　and　the
brigadier　came　up　to　him　and　asked：　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　　〃I　am
resting；〃　the　man　replied　calmly。　　〃Where　do　you　come　from？〃　　〃If　I　had
to　tell　you　all　the　places　I　have　been　to　it　would　take　me　more　than　an
hour。〃　　〃Where　are　you　going　to？〃　　〃To　Ville…Avary。〃　　〃Where　is　that？〃
〃In　La　Manche。〃　　〃Is　that　where　you　belong？〃　　〃It　is。〃　　〃Why　did　you
leave　it？〃　　〃To　look　for　work。〃

The　brigadier　turned　to　his　gendarme　and　said　in　the　angry　voice　of　a　man
who　is　exasperated　at　last　by　an　oft…repeated　trick：　〃They　all　say　that；
these　scamps。　　I　know　all　about　it。〃　　And　then　he　continued：　〃Have　you
any　papers？〃　〃Yes；　I　have　some。〃　　〃Give　them　to　me。〃

Randel　took　his　papers　out　of　his　pocket；　his　certificates；　those　poor；
worn…out；　dirty　papers　which　were　falling　to　pieces；　and　gave　them　to　the
soldier；　who　spelled　them　through；　hemming　and　hawing；　and　then；　having
seen　that　they　were　all　in　order；　he　gave　them　back　to　Randel　with　the
dissatisfied　look　of　a　man　whom　some　one　cleverer　than　himself　has
tricked。

After　a　few　moments'　further　reflection；　he　asked　him：　〃Have　you　any
money　on　you？〃　〃No。〃　　〃None　whatever？〃　　〃None。〃　　〃Not　even　a　sou？〃　〃Not
even　a　son！〃　〃How　do　you　live　then？〃　〃On　what　people　give　me。〃　　〃Then　you
beg？〃　　And　Randel　answered　resolutely：　〃Yes；　when　I　can。〃

Then　the　gendarme　said：　〃I　have　caught　you　on　the　highroad　in　the　act　of
vagabondage　and　begging；　without　any　resources　or　trade；　and　so　I　command
you　to　come　with　me。〃　　The　carpenter　got　up　and　said：　〃Wherever　you
please。〃　　And；　placing　himself　between　the　two　soldiers；　even　before　he
had　received　the　order　to　do　so；　he　added：　〃Well；　lock　me　up；　that　will
at　any　rate　put　a　roof　over　my　head　when　it　rains。〃

And　they　set　off　toward　the　village；　the　red　tiles　of　which　could　be　seen
through　the　leafless　trees；　a　quarter　of　a　league　off。　　Service　was　about
to　begin　when　they　went　through　the　village。　　The　square　was　full　of
people；　who　immediately　formed　two　lines　to　see　the　criminal　pass。
He　was　being　followed　by　a　crowd　of　excited　children。　　Male　and　female
peasants　looked　at　the　prisoner　between　the　two　gendarmes；　with　hatred　in
their　eyes　and　a　longing　to　throw　stones　at　him；　to　tear　his　skin　with
their　nails；　to　trample　him　under　their　feet。　　They　asked　each　other
whether　he　had　committed　murder　or　robbery。　　The　butcher；　who　was　an　ex…
'spahi'；　declared　that　he　was　a　deserter。　　The　tobacconist　thought　that
he　recognized　him　as　the　man　who　had　that　very　morning　passed　a　bad　half…
franc　piece　off　on　him；　and　the　ironmonger　declared　that　he　was　the
murderer　of　Widow　Malet；　whom　the　police　had　been　looking　for　for　six
months。

In　the　municipal　court；　into　which　his　custodians　took　him；　Randel　saw
the　mayor　again；　sitting　on　the　magisterial　bench；　with　the　schoolmaster
by　his　side。　　〃Aha！　aha！〃　the　magistrate　exclaimed；　〃so　here　you　are
again；　my　fine　fellow。　　I　told　you　I　should　have　you　locked　up。　　Well；
brigadier；　what　is　he　charged　with？〃

〃He　is　a　vagabond　without　house　or　home；　Monsieur　le　Maire；　without　any
resources　or　money；　so　he　says；　who　was　arrested　in　the　act　of　begging；
but　he　is　provided　with　good　testimonials；　and　his　papers　are　all　in
order。〃

〃Show　me　his　papers；〃　the　mayor　said。　　He　took　them；　read　them；　reread；
returned　them　and　then　said：　〃Search　him。〃　　So　they　searched　him；　but
found　nothing；　and　the　mayor　seemed　perplexed；　and　asked　the　workman：

〃What　were　you　doing　on　the　road　this　morning？〃　〃I　was　looking　for　work。〃
〃Work？　　On　the　highroad？〃　　〃How　do　you　expect　me　to　find　any　if　I　hide　in
the　woods？〃

They　looked　at　each　other　with　the　hatred　of　two　wild　beasts　which　belong
to　different　hostile　species；　and　the　magistrate　continued：　〃I　am　going
to　have　you　set　at　liberty；　but　do　not　be　brought　up　before　me　again。〃
To　which　the　carpenter　replied：　〃I　would　rather　you　locked　me　up；　I　have
had　enough　running　about　the　country。〃　　But　the　magistrate　replied
severely：　〃be　silent。〃　　And　then　he　said　to　the　two　gendarmes：　〃You　will
conduct　this　man　two　hundred　yards　from　the　village　and　let　him　continue
his　journey。〃

〃At　any　rate；　give　me　something　to　eat；〃　the　workman　said；　but　the　other
grew　indignant：　〃Have　we　nothing　to　do　but　to　feed　you？　　Ah！　ah！　ah！
that　is　rather　too　much！〃　　But　Randel　went　on　firmly：　〃If　you　let　me
nearly　die　of　hunger　again；　you　will　force　me　to　commit　a　crime；　and
then；　so　much　the　worse　for　you　other　fat　fellows。〃

The　mayor　had　risen　and　he　repeated：　〃Take　him　away　immediately　or　I
shall　end　by　getting　angry。〃

The　two　gendarm