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He took me into one of the suburbs。 The woman lived in a pretty little
house by the side of the road。 It was attractive and well kept。 The
garden was filled with fragrant flowers。 One might have supposed it to
be the residence of a retired lawyer。
A maid ushered us into a sort of little country parlor； and the wretch
appeared。 She was about forty。 She was a tall； big woman with hard
features； but well formed； vigorous and healthy； the true type of a
robust peasant woman； half animal； and half woman。
She was aware of her reputation and received everyone with a humility
that smacked of hatred。
〃What do the gentlemen wish？〃 she asked。
〃They tell me that your last child is just like an ordinary child； that
he does not resemble his brothers at all；〃 replied my friend。 〃I wanted
to be sure of that。 Is it true？〃
She cast on us a malicious and furious look as she said：
〃Oh； no； oh； no； my poor sir！ He is perhaps even uglier than the rest。
I have no luck； no luck！
They are all like that； it is heartbreaking！ How can the good God be so
hard on a poor woman who is all alone in the world； how can He？〃
She spoke hurriedly； her eyes cast down； with a deprecating air as of a
wild beast who is afraid。 Her harsh voice became soft； and it seemed
strange to hear those tearful falsetto tones issuing from that big； bony
frame； of unusual strength and with coarse outlines； which seemed fitted
for violent action； and made to utter howls like a wolf。
〃We should like to see your little one；〃 said my friend。
I fancied she colored up。 I may have been deceived。 After a few moments
of silence； she said in a louder tone：
〃What good will that do you？〃
〃Why do you not wish to show it to us？〃 replied my friend。 〃There are
many people to whom you will show it； you know whom I mean。〃
She gave a start； and resuming her natural voice； and giving free play to
her anger； she screamed：
〃Was that why you came here？ To insult me？ Because my children are like
animals； tell me？ You shall not see him； no； no； you shall not see him！
Go away； go away！ I do not know why you all try to torment me like
that。〃
She walked over toward us； her hands on her hips。 At the brutal tone of
her voice； a sort of moaning； or rather a mewing； the lamentable cry of
an idiot； came from the adjoining room。 I shivered to the marrow of my
bones。 We retreated before her。
〃Take care； Devil〃 （they called her the Devil）； said my friend； 〃take
care； some day you will get yourself into trouble through this。〃
She began to tremble； beside herself with fury； shaking her fist and
roaring：
〃Be off with you！ What will get me into trouble？ Be off with you；
miscreants！〃
She was about to attack us； but we fled； saddened at what we had seen。
When we got outside； my friend said：
〃Well； you have seen her； what do you think of her？〃
〃Tell me the story of this brute；〃 I replied。
And this is what he told me as we walked along the white high road； with
ripe crops on either side of it which rippled like the sea in the light
breeze that passed over them。
〃This woman was one a servant on a farm。 She was an honest girl； steady
and economical。 She was never known to have an admirer； and never
suspected of any frailty。 But she went astray； as so many do。
〃She soon found herself in trouble； and was tortured with fear and shame。
Wishing to conceal her misfortune； she bound her body tightly with a
corset of her own invention； made of boards and cord。 The more she
developed； the more she bound herself with this instrument of torture；
suffering martyrdom； but brave in her sorrow； not allowing anyone to see；
or suspect； anything。 She maimed the little unborn being； cramping it
with that frightful corset； and made a monster of it。 Its head was
squeezed and elongated to a point； and its large eyes seemed popping out
of its head。 Its limbs； exaggeratedly long； and twisted like the stalk
of a vine； terminated in fingers like the claws of a spider。 Its trunk
was tiny； and round as a nut。
〃The child was born in an open field； and when the weeders saw it； they
fled away； screaming； and the report spread that she had given birth to a
demon。 From that time on； she was called 'the Devil。'
〃She was driven from the farm； and lived on charity； under a cloud。 She
brought up the monster； whom she hated with a savage hatred； and would
have strangled； perhaps； if the priest had not threatened her with
arrest。
〃One day some travelling showmen heard about the frightful creature； and
asked to see it； so that if it pleased them they might take it away。
They were pleased； and counted out five hundred francs to the mother。
At first； she had refused to let them see the little animal； as she was
ashamed； but when she discovered it had a money value； and that these
people were anxious to get it； she began to haggle with them； raising her
price with all a peasant's persistence。
〃She made them draw up a paper； in which they promised to pay her four
hundred francs a year besides； as though they had taken this deformity
into their employ。
〃Incited by the greed of gain； she continued to produce these phenomena；
so as to have an assured income like a bourgeoise。
〃Some of them were long； some short； some like crabs…all bodies…others
like lizards。 Several died； and she was heartbroken。
〃The law tried to interfere； but as they had no proof they let her
continue to produce her freaks。
She has at this moment eleven alive； and they bring in； on an average；
counting good and bad years； from five to six thousand francs a year。
One； alone； is not placed； the one she was unwilling to show us。 But she
will not keep it long； for she is known to all the showmen in the world；
who come from time to time to see if she has anything new。
〃She even gets bids from them when the monster is valuable。〃
My friend was silent。 A profound disgust stirred my heart； and a feeling
of rage； of regret； to think that I had not strangled this brute when I
had the opportunity。
I had forgotten this story； when I saw on the beach of a fashionable
resort the other day； an elegant； charming； dainty woman； surrounded by
men who paid her respect as well as admiration。
I was walking along the beach； arm in arm with a friend； the resident
physician。 Ten minutes later； I saw a nursemaid with three children； who
were rolling in the sand。 A pair of little crutches lay on the ground；
and touched my sympathy。 I then noticed that these three children were
all deformed； humpbacked； or crooked； and hideous。
〃Those are the offspring of that charming woman you saw just now；〃 said
the doctor。
I was filled with pity for her； as well as for them； and exclaimed：
〃Oh； the poor mother！ How can she ever laugh！〃
〃Do not pity her； my friend。 Pity the poor children；〃 replied the
doctor。 〃This is the consequence of preserving a slender figure up to
the last。 These little deformities were made by the corset。 She knows
very well that she is risking her life at this game。 But what does she
care； as long as lie can be beautiful and have admirers！〃
And then I recalled that other woman； the peas