original short stories-8-第17节
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The mayor had risen and he repeated： 〃Take him away immediately or I
shall end by getting angry。〃
The two gendarmes thereupon seized the carpenter by the arms and dragged
him out。 He allowed them to do it without resistance； passed through the
village again and found himself on the highroad once more； and when the
men had accompanied him two hundred yards beyond the village； the
brigadier said： 〃Now off with you and do not let me catch you about here
again； for if I do； you will know it。〃
Randel went off without replying or knowing where he was going。 He
walked on for a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes； so stupefied that
he no longer thought of anything。 But suddenly； as he was passing a
small house； where the window was half open； the smell of the soup and
boiled meat stopped him suddenly； and hunger； fierce； devouring；
maddening hunger； seized him and almost drove him against the walls of
the house like a wild beast。
He said aloud in a grumbling voice： 〃In Heaven's name！ they must give me
some this time！〃 And he began to knock at the door vigorously with his
stick； and as no one came he knocked louder and called out： 〃Hey！ hey！
you people in there； open the door！〃 And then； as nothing stirred； he
went up to the window and pushed it wider open with his hand； and the
close warm air of the kitchen； full of the smell of hot soup； meat and
cabbage； escaped into the cold outer air； and with a bound the carpenter
was in the house。 Two places were set at the table； and no doubt the
proprietors of the house； on going to church； had left their dinner on
the fire； their nice Sunday boiled beef and vegetable soup； while there
was a loaf of new bread on the chimney…piece； between two bottles which
seemed full。
Randel seized the bread first of all and broke it with as much violence
as if he were strangling a man； and then he began to eat voraciously；
swallowing great mouthfuls quickly。 But almost immediately the smell of
the meat attracted him to the fireplace； and； having taken off the lid of
the saucepan； he plunged a fork into it and brought out a large piece of
beef tied with a string。 Then he took more cabbage； carrots and onions
until his plate was full； and； having put it on the table； he sat down
before it； cut the meat into four pieces； and dined as if he had been at
home。 When he had eaten nearly all the meat； besides a quantity of
vegetables； he felt thirsty and took one of the bottles off the
mantelpiece。
Scarcely had he poured the liquor into his glass when he saw it was
brandy。 So much the better； it was warming and would instill some fire
into his veins； and that would be all right； after being so cold； and he
drank some。 He certainly enjoyed it； for he had grown unaccustomed to
it； and he poured himself out another glassful； which he drank at two
gulps。 And then almost immediately he felt quite merry and light…hearted
from the effects of the alcohol； just as if some great happiness filled
his heart。
He continued to eat； but more slowly； and dipping his bread into the
soup。 His skin had become burning； and especially his forehead； where
the veins were throbbing。 But suddenly the church bells began to ring。
Mass was over； and instinct rather than fear； the instinct of prudence；
which guides all beings and makes them clear…sighted in danger； made the
carpenter get up。 He put the remains of the loaf into one pocket and the
brandy bottle into the other； and he furtively went to the window and
looked out into the road。 It was still deserted； so he jumped out and
set off walking again； but instead of following the highroad he ran
across the fields toward a wood he saw a little way off。
He felt alert； strong； light…hearted； glad of what he had done； and so
nimble that he sprang over the enclosure of the fields at a single bound；
and as soon as he was under the trees he took the bottle out of his
pocket again and began to drink once more； swallowing it down as lie
walked； and then his ideas began to get confused； his eyes grew dim； and
his legs as elastic as springs； and he started singing the old popular
song：
〃Oh！ what joy； what joy it is；
To pick the sweet； wild strawberries。〃
He was now walking on thick； damp； cool moss； and that soft carpet under
his feet made him feel absurdly inclined to turn head over heels as he
used to do when a child； so he took a run； turned a somersault； got up
and began over again。 And between each time he began to sing again：
〃Oh！ what joy； what joy it is；
To pick the sweet； wild strawberries。〃
Suddenly he found himself above a deep road； and in the road he saw a
tall girl； a servant； who was returning to the village with two pails of
milk。 He watched； stooping down； and with his eyes as bright as those of
a dog who scents a quail； but she saw him raised her head and said： 〃Was
that you singing like that？〃 He did not reply； however； but jumped down
into the road； although it was a fall of at least six feet and when she
saw him suddenly standing in front of her； she exclaimed： 〃Oh！ dear； how
you frightened me！〃
But he did not hear her； for he was drunk； he was mad； excited by another
requirement which was more imperative than hunger； more feverish than
alcohol； by the irresistible fury of the man who has been deprived of
everything for two months； and who is drunk； who is young； ardent and
inflamed by all the appetites which nature has implanted in the vigorous
flesh of men。
The girl started back from him； frightened at his face； his eyes； his
half…open mouth； his outstretched hands； but he seized her by the
shoulders； and without a word； threw her down in the road。
She let her two pails fall； and they rolled over noisily； and all the
milk was spilt； and then she screamed lustily； but it was of no avail in
that lonely spot。
When she got up the thought of her overturned pails suddenly filled her
with fury； and； taking off one of her wooden sabots； she threw it at the
man to break his head if he did not pay her for her milk。
But he； mistaking the reason of this sudden violent attack； somewhat
sobered； and frightened at what he had done； ran off as fast as he could；
while she threw stones at him； some of which hit him in the back。
He ran for a long time； very long； until he felt more tired than he had
ever been before。 His legs were so weak that they could scarcely carry
him； all his ideas were confused； he lost recollection of everything and
could no longer think about anything； and so he sat down at the foot of a
tree； and in five minutes was fast asleep。 He was soon awakened；
however； by a rough shake； and； on opening his eyes； he saw two cocked
hats of shiny leather bending over him； and the two gendarmes of the
morning； who were holding him and binding his arms。
〃I knew I should catch you again；〃 said the brigadier jeeringly。 But
Randel got up without replying。 The two men shook him； quite ready to
ill treat him if he made a movement； for he was their prey now。 He had
become a jailbird； caught by those hunters of criminals who would not let
him go again。
〃Now； start！〃 the brigadier said； and they set off。 It was late
afternoon； and the autumn twilight was setting in over the land； and in
half an hour they reached the village； where every door was open； for the
people had heard what had happened。 Peasants and peasant women and
girls； excited with anger； as if every man had been robbed and every
woman attacked； wished to see the wretch brought back； so that they might
overwhelm him with abuse。 They hooted him from the first house in the
village until they reached the Hotel de Ville； where the mayor was
waiting for him to be himself avenged on this vagabond； and as soon as he
saw him approaching he cried：
〃Ah！ my fine fellow！ here we are！〃 And he rubbed his hands； more
pleased than he usually was； and continued： 〃I said so。 I said so； the
moment I saw him in the road。〃
And then with increased satisfaction：
〃Oh； you blackguard！ Oh； you dirty blackguard！ You will get your twenty
years； my fine fellow！〃
THE FISHING HOLE
〃Cuts and wounds which caused death。〃 Such was the charge upon which
Leopold Renard； upholsterer； was summoned before the Court of Assizes。
Round him were the principal witnesses； Madame Flameche； widow of the
victim； and Louis Ladureau； cabinetmaker； and Jean Durdent； plumber。
Near the criminal was his wife； dressed in black； an ugly little woman；
who looked like a monkey dressed as a lady。
This is how Renard （Leopold） recounted the drama。
〃Good heavens； it is a misfortune of which I was the prime victim all the
time； and with which my will has nothing to do。 The facts are their own
commentary； Monsieur le President。 I am an honest man； a hard…working
man； an upholsterer； living in the same street for the last sixteen
years； known； liked； respected and esteemed by all； as my neighbors can
testify； even the porter's wife； who is not amiable every day。 I am fond
of work； I am fond of saving； I like honest men and respectable
amusements。 That is what has ruined me； so much the worse for me； but as
my will had nothing to
