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Genestas started in his chair。
〃Yes； Captain Bluteau； you were with me at the time。 Do you remember how； while we were putting little Jacques to bed； you pointed to the mattress on which Mother Colas sleeps？ Well； you can imagine how painful it all was； I can never see any child without thinking of the dear child I have lost； and this little one was doomed to die！ I can never see a child with indifferent eyes〃
Genestas turned pale。
〃Yes； the sight of the little golden heads； the innocent beauty of children's faces always awakens memories of my sorrows； and the old anguish returns afresh。 Now and then； too； there comes the intolerable thought that so many people here should thank me for what little I can do for them； when all that I have done has been prompted by remorse。 You alone； captain； know the secret of my life。 If I had drawn my will to serve them from some purer source than the memory of my errors； I should be happy indeed！ But then； too； there would have been nothing to tell you； and no story about myself。〃
CHAPTER V
ELEGIES
As Benassis finished his story； he was struck by the troubled expression of the officer's face。 It touched him to have been so well understood。 He was almost ready to reproach himself for having distressed his visitor。 He spoke：
〃But these troubles of mine； Captain Bluteau〃
〃Do not call me Captain Bluteau；〃 cried Genestas； breaking in upon the doctor； and springing to his feet with sudden energy； a change of position that seemed to be prompted by inward dissatisfaction of some kind。 〃There is no such person as Captain Bluteau。 。 。 。 I am a scoundrel！〃
With no little astonishment； Benassis beheld Genestas pacing to and fro in the salon； like a bumble…bee in quest of an exit from the room which he has incautiously entered。
〃Then who are you； sir？〃 inquired Benassis。
〃Ah！ there now！〃 the officer answered； as he turned and took his stand before the doctor； though he lacked courage to look at his friend。 〃I have deceived you！〃 he went on （and there was a change in his voice）。 〃I have acted a lie for the first time in my life； and I am well punished for it； for after this I cannot explain why I came here to play the spy upon you； confound it！ Ever since I have had a glimpse of your soul； so to speak； I would far sooner have taken a box on the ear whenever I heard you call me Captain Bluteau！ Perhaps you may forgive me for this subterfuge； but I shall never forgive myself； I； Pierre Joseph Genestas； who would not lie to save my life before a court… martial！〃
〃Are you Commandant Genestas？〃 cried Benassis； rising to his feet。 He grasped the officer's hand warmly； and added： 〃As you said but a short time ago； sir； we were friends before we knew each other。 I have been very anxious to make your acquaintance； for I have often heard M。 Gravier speak of you。 He used to call you； 'one of Plutarch's men。' 〃
〃Plutarch？ Nothing of the sort！〃 answered Genestas。 〃I am not worthy of you； I could thrash myself。 I ought to have told you my secret in a straightforward way at the first。 Yet； now！ It is quite as well that I wore a mask； and came here myself in search of information concerning you； for now I know that I must hold my tongue。 If I had set about this business in the right fashion it would have been painful to you； and God forbid that I should give you the slightest annoyance。〃
〃But I do not understand you； commandant。〃
〃Let the matter drop。 I am not ill； I have spent a pleasant day； and I will go back to…morrow。 Whenever you come to Grenoble； you will find that you have one more friend there； who will be your friend through thick and thin。 Pierre Joseph Genestas' sword and purse are at your disposal； and I am yours to the last drop of my blood。 Well； after all； your words have fallen on good soil。 When I am pensioned off； I will look for some out…of…the…way little place； and be mayor of it； and try to follow your example。 I have not your knowledge； but I will study at any rate。〃
〃You are right； sir； the landowner who spends his time in convincing a commune of the folly of some mistaken notion of agriculture； confers upon his country a benefit quite as great as any that the most skilful physician can bestow。 The latter lessens the sufferings of some few individuals； and the former heals the wounds of his country。 But you have excited my curiosity to no common degree。 Is there really something in which I can be of use to you？〃
〃Of use？〃 repeated the commandant in an altered voice。
〃Mon Dieu！ I was about to ask you to do me a service which is all but impossible； M。 Benassis。 Just listen a moment！ I have killed a good many Christians in my time； it is true； but you may kill people and keep a good heart for all that； so there are some things that I can feel and understand； rough as I look。〃
〃But go on！〃
〃No； I do not want to give you any pain if I can help it。〃
〃Oh！ commandant； I can bear a great deal。〃
〃It is a question of a child's life； sir；〃 said the officer； nervously。
Benassis suddenly knitted his brows； but by a gesture he entreated Genestas to continue。
〃A child；〃 repeated the commandant；〃whose life may yet be saved by constant watchfulness and incessant care。 Where could I expect to find a doctor capable of devoting himself to a single patient？ Not in a town； that much was certain。 I had heard you spoken of as an excellent man； but I wished to be quite sure that this reputation was well founded。 So before putting my little charge into the hands of this M。 Benassis of whom people spoke so highly； I wanted to study him myself。 But now〃
〃Enough；〃 said the doctor； 〃so this child is yours？〃
〃No； no； M。 Benassis。 To clear up the mystery； I should have to tell you a long story； in which I do not exactly play the part of a hero； but you have given me your confidence and I can readily give you mine。〃
〃One moment； commandant；〃 said the doctor。 In answer to his summons； Jacquotte appeared at once； and her master ordered tea。 〃You see； commandant； at night when every one is sleeping； I do not sleep。 。 。 。 The thought of my troubles lies heavily on me； and then I try to forget them by taking tea。 It produces a sort of nervous inebriation a kind of slumber； without which I could not live。 Do you still decline to take it？〃
〃For my own part；〃 said Genestas； 〃I prefer your Hermitage。〃
〃By all means。 Jacquotte；〃 said Benassis； turning to his housekeeper； 〃bring in some wine and biscuits。 We will both of us have our night… cap after our separate fashions。〃
〃That tea must be very bad for you！〃 Genestas remarked。
〃It brings on horrid attacks of gout； but I cannot break myself of the habit； it is too soothing； it procures for me a brief respite every night； a few moments during which life becomes less of a burden。 。 。 。 Come。 I am listening； perhaps your story will efface the painful impressions left by the memories that I have just recalled。〃
Genestas set down his empty glass upon the chimney…piece。 〃After the Retreat from Moscow；〃 he said； 〃my regiment was stationed to recruit for a while in a little town in Poland。 We were quartered there； in fact； till the Emperor returned； and we bought up horses at long prices。 So far so good。 I ought to say that I had a friend in those days。 More than once during the Retreat I had owed my life to him。 He was a quartermaster； Renard by name； we could not but be like brothers （military discipline apart） after what he had done for me。 They billeted us on the same house； a sort of shanty； a rat…hole of a place where a whole family lived； though you would not have thought there was room to stable a horse。 This particular hovel belonged to some Jews who carried on their six…and…thirty trades in it。 The frost had not so stiffened the old father Jew's fingers but that he could count gold fast enough； he had thriven uncommonly during our reverses。 That sort of gentry lives in squalor and dies in gold。
〃There were cellars underneath （lined with wood of course； the whole house was built of wood）； they had stowed their children away down there； and one more particularly； a girl of seventeen； as handsome as a Jewess can be when she keeps herself tidy and has not fair hair。 She was as white as snow； she had eyes like velvet； and dark lashes to them like rats' tails； her hair was so thick and glossy that it made you long to stroke it。 She was perfection； and nothing less！ I was the first to discover this curious arrangement。 I was walking up and down outside one evening； smoking my pipe； after they thought I had gone to bed。 The children came in helter…skelter； tumbling over one another like so many puppies。 It was fun to watch them。 Then they had supper with their father and mother。 I strained my eyes to see the young Jewess through the clouds of smoke that her father blew from his pipe； she looked like a new gold piece among a lot of copper coins。
〃I had never reflected about love； my dear Benassis； I had never had time； but now at the sight of this young girl I lost my heart and head and everything else at once； and then it was plain to me that I had never been in love before。 I was hard hit； and over head and ears in love。 There I stayed smoking my pipe； absorbed in watching the Jewess until she blew out