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peasant who has been robbed； and began to cast about for some means of
getting rid of her。
One day he came to see her again； rubbing his hands as he did the first
time he proposed the bargain； and； after having chatted for a few
minutes； he said：
〃Why do you never come and have a bit of dinner at my place when you are
in Spreville？ The people are talking about it； and saying we are not on
friendly terms； and that pains me。 You know it will cost you nothing if
you come； for I don't look at the price of a dinner。 Come whenever you
feel inclined； I shall be very glad to see you。〃
Old Mother Magloire did not need to be asked twice； and the next day but
one； as she had to go to the town in any case； it being market day； she
let her man drive her to Chicot's place； where the buggy was put in the
barn while she went into the house to get her dinner。
The innkeeper was delighted and treated her like a lady； giving her roast
fowl； black pudding； leg of mutton and bacon and cabbage。 But she ate
next to nothing。 She had always been a small eater； and had generally
lived on a little soup and a crust of bread and butter。
Chicot was disappointed and pressed her to eat more； but she refused； and
she would drink little； and declined coffee； so he asked her：
〃But surely you will take a little drop of brandy or liqueur？〃
〃Well； as to that； I don't know that I will refuse。〃 Whereupon he
shouted out：
〃Rosalie； bring the superfine brandythe specialyou know。〃
The servant appeared； carrying a long bottle ornamented with a paper
vine…leaf； and he filled two liqueur glasses。
〃Just try that； you will find it first rate。〃
The good woman drank it slowly in sips； so as to make the pleasure last
all the longer； and when she had finished her glass； she said：
〃Yes； that is first rate！〃
Almost before she had said it Chicot had poured her out another glassful。
She wished to refuse； but it was too late； and she drank it very slowly；
as she had done the first； and he asked her to have a third。 She
objected； but he persisted。
〃It is as mild as milk； you know； I can drink ten or a dozen glasses
without any ill effects； it goes down like sugar and does not go to the
head； one would think that it evaporated on the tongue： It is the most
wholesome thing you can drink。〃
She took it； for she really enjoyed it； but she left half the glass。
Then Chicot； in an excess of generosity； said：
〃Look here； as it is so much to your taste； I will give you a small keg
of it； just to show that you and I are still excellent friends。〃 So she
took one away with her； feeling slightly overcome by the effects of what
she had drunk。
The next day the innkeeper drove into her yard and took a little iron…
hooped keg out of his gig。 He insisted on her tasting the contents； to
make sure it was the same delicious article； and； when they had each of
them drunk three more glasses； he said as he was going away：
〃Well； you know when it is all gone there is more left； don't be modest；
for I shall not mind。 The sooner it is finished the better pleased I
shall be。〃
Four days later he came again。 The old woman was outside her door
cutting up the bread for her soup。
He went up to her and put his face close to hers； so that he might smell
her breath； and when he smelt the alcohol he felt pleased。
〃I suppose you will give me a glass of the Special？〃 he said。 And they
had three glasses each。
Soon； however； it began to be whispered abroad that Mother Magloire was
in the habit of getting drunk all by herself。 She was picked up in her
kitchen； then in her yard； then in the roads in the neighborhood； and she
was often brought home like a log。
The innkeeper did not go near her any more； and； when people spoke to him
about her； he used to say； putting on a distressed look：
〃It is a great pity that she should have taken to drink at her age； but
when people get old there is no remedy。 It will be the death of her in
the long run。〃
And it certainly was the death of her。 She died the next winter。 About
Christmas time she fell down； unconscious； in the snow； and was found
dead the next morning。
And when Chicot came in for the farm； he said：
〃It was very stupid of her； if she had not taken to drink she would
probably have lived ten years longer。〃
BOITELLE
Father Boitelle （Antoine） made a specialty of undertaking dirty jobs all
through the countryside。 Whenever there was a ditch or a cesspool to be
cleaned out； a dunghill removed； a sewer cleansed； or any dirt hole
whatever； he way always employed to do it。
He would come with the instruments of his trade； his sabots covered with
dirt； and set to work； complaining incessantly about his occupation。
When people asked him then why he did this loathsome work； he would reply
resignedly：
〃Faith； 'tis for my children； whom I must support。 This brings me in
more than anything else：'
He had； indeed； fourteen children。 If any one asked him what had become
of them； he would say with an air of indifference：
〃There are only eight of them left in the house。 One is out at service
and five are married。〃
When the questioner wanted to know whether they were well married； he
replied vivaciously：
〃I did not oppose them。 I opposed them in nothing。 They married just as
they pleased。 We shouldn't go against people's likings； it turns out
badly。 I am a night scavenger because my parents went against my
likings。 But for that I would have become a workman like the others。〃
Here is the way his parents had thwarted him in his likings：
He was at the time a soldier stationed at Havre； not more stupid than
another； or sharper either； a rather simple fellow； however。 When he was
not on duty； his greatest pleasure was to walk along the quay； where the
bird dealers congregate。 Sometimes alone； sometimes with a soldier from
his own part of the country； he would slowly saunter along by cages
containing parrots with green backs and yellow heads from the banks of
the Amazon； or parrots with gray backs and red heads from Senegal； or
enormous macaws； which look like birds reared in hot…houses； with their
flower…like feathers； their plumes and their tufts。 Parrots of every
size； who seem painted with minute care by the miniaturist； God Almighty；
and the little birds； all the smaller birds hopped about； yellow； blue
and variegated； mingling their cries with the noise of the quay； and
adding to the din caused by unloading the vessels； as well as by
passengers and vehicles； a violent clamor； loud； shrill and deafening； as
if from some distant forest of monsters。
Boitelle would pause； with wondering eyes； wide…open mouth； laughing and
enraptured； showing his teeth to the captive cockatoos； who kept nodding
their white or yellow topknots toward the glaring red of his breeches and
the copper buckle of his belt。 When he found a bird that could talk he
put questions to it； and if it happened at the time to be disposed to
reply and to hold a conversation with him he would carry away enough
amusement to last him till evening。 He also found heaps of amusement in
looking at the monkeys； and could co