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liness； so she kept the house neat and clean。 If her tastes had been different； it would have been a sad thing for M。 Benassis （so she was wont to say）； for the poor man was so little particular that you might feed him on cabbage for partridges； and he would not find it out； and if it were not for her； he would very often wear the same shirt for a week on end。 Jacquotte； however； was an indefatigable folder of linen； a born rubber and polisher of furniture； and a passionate lover of a perfectly religious and ceremonial cleanliness of the most scrupulous； the most radiant； and most fragrant kind。 A sworn foe to dust； she swept and scoured and washed without ceasing。
The condition of the gateway caused her acute distress。 On the first day of every month for the past ten years； she had extorted from her master a promise that he would replace the gate with a new one； that the walls of the house should be lime…washed； and that everything should be made quite straight and proper about the place； but so far； the master had not kept his word。 So it happened that whenever she fell to lamenting over Benassis' deeply…rooted carelessness about things； she nearly always ended solemnly in these words with which all her praises of her master usually terminated：
〃You cannot say that he is a fool； because he works such miracles； as you may say； in the place； but； all the same； he is a fool at times； such a fool that you have to do everything for him as if he were a child。〃
Jacquotte loved the house as if it had belonged to her； and when she had lived in it for twenty…two years； had she not some grounds for deluding herself on that head？ After the cure's death the house had been for sale； and Benassis； who had only just come into the country； had bought it as it stood； with the walls about it and the ground belonging to it； together with the plate； wine； and furniture； the old sundial； the poultry； the horse； and the woman…servant。 Jacquotte was the very pattern of a working housekeeper； with her clumsy figure； and her bodice； always of the same dark brown print with large red spots on it； which fitted her so tightly that it looked as if the material must give way if she moved at all。 Her colorless face； with its double chin； looked out from under a round plaited cap； which made her look paler than she really was。 She talked incessantly； and always in a loud voicethis short； active woman； with the plump； busy hands。 Indeed； if Jacquotte was silent for a moment； and took a corner of her apron so as to turn it up in a triangle； it meant that a lengthy expostulation was about to be delivered for the benefit of master or man。 Jacquotte was beyond all doubt the happiest cook in the kingdom； for； that nothing might be lacking in a measure of felicity as great as may be known in this world below； her vanity was continually gratifiedthe townspeople regarded her as an authority of an indefinite kind； and ranked her somewhere between the mayor and the park…keeper。
The master of the house found nobody in the kitchen when he entered it。
〃Where the devil are they all gone？〃 he asked。 〃Pardon me for bringing you in this way；〃 he went on； turning to Genestas。 〃The front entrance opens into the garden； but I am so little accustomed to receive visitors thatJacquotte！〃 he called in rather peremptory tones。
A woman's voice answered to the name from the interior of the house。 A moment later Jacquotte； assuming the offensive； called in her turn to Benassis； who forthwith went into the dining…room。
〃Just like you； sir！〃 she exclaimed； 〃you never do like anybody else。 You always ask people to dinner without telling me beforehand； and you think that everything is settled as soon as you have called for Jacquotte！ You are not going to have the gentleman sit in the kitchen； are you？ Is not the salon to be unlocked and a fire to be lighted？ Nicolle is there； and will see after everything。 Now take the gentleman into the garden for a minute； that will amuse him； if he likes to look at pretty things； show him the arbor of hornbeam trees that the poor dear old gentleman made。 I shall have time then to lay the cloth； and to get everything ready； the dinner and the salon too。〃
〃Yes。 But； Jacquotte；〃 Benassis went on； 〃the gentleman is going to stay with us。 Do not forget to give a look round M。 Gravier's room； and see about the sheets and things； and 〃
〃Now you are not going to interfere about the sheets； are you？〃 asked Jacquotte。 〃If he is to sleep here； I know what must be done for him perfectly well。 You have not so much as set foot in M。 Gravier's room these ten months past。 There is nothing to see there； the place is as clean as a new pin。 Then will the gentleman make some stay here？〃 she continued in a milder tone。
〃Yes。〃
〃How long will he stay？〃
〃Faith； I do not know： What does it matter to you？〃
〃What does it matter to me； sir？ Oh！ very well； what does it matter to me？ Did any one ever hear the like！ And the provisions and all that and〃
At any other time she would have overwhelmed her master with reproaches for his breach of trust； but now she followed him into the kitchen before the torrent of words had come to an end。 She had guessed that there was a prospect of a boarder； and was eager to see Genestas； to whom she made a very deferential courtesy； while she scanned him from head to foot。 A thoughtful and dejected expression gave a harsh look to the soldier's face。 In the dialogue between master and servant the latter had appeared to him in the light of a nonentity； and although he regretted the fact； this revelation had lessened the high opinion that he had formed of the man whose persistent efforts to save the district from the horrors of cretinism had won his admiration。
〃I do not like the looks of that fellow at all！〃 said Jacquotte to herself。
〃If you are not tired； sir；〃 said the doctor to his supposed patient； 〃we will take a turn round the garden before dinner。〃
〃Willingly；〃 answered the commandant。
They went through the dining…room； and reached the garden by way of a sort of vestibule at the foot of the staircase between the salon and the dining…room。 Beyond a great glass door at the farther end of the vestibule lay a flight of stone steps which adorned the garden side of the house。 The garden itself was divided into four large squares of equal size by two paths that intersected each other in the form of a cross； a box edging along their sides。 At the farther end there was a thick； green alley of hornbeam trees； which had been the joy and pride of the late owner。 The soldier seated himself on a worm…eaten bench； and saw neither the trellis…work nor the espaliers； nor the vegetables of which Jacquotte took such great care。 She followed the traditions of the epicurean churchman to whom this valuable garden owed its origin； but Benassis himself regarded it with sufficient indifference。
The commandant turned their talk from the trivial matters which had occupied them by saying to the doctor：
〃How comes it； sir； that the population of the valley has been trebled in ten years？ There were seven hundred souls in it when you came； and to…day you say that they number more than two thousand。〃
〃You are the first person who has put that question to me；〃 the doctor answered。 〃Though it has been my aim to develop the capabilities of this little corner of the earth to the utmost； the constant pressure of a busy life has not left me time to think over the way in which （like the mendicant brother） I have made 'broth from a flint' on a large scale。 M。 Gravier himself； who is one of several who have done a great deal for us； and to whom I was able to render a service by re… establishing his health； has never given a thought to the theory； though he has been everywhere over our mountain sides with me； to see its practical results。〃
There was a moment's silence； during which Benassis followed his own thoughts； careless of the keen glance by which his guest friend tried to fathom him。
〃You ask how it came about； my dear sir？〃 the doctor resumed。 〃It came about quite naturally through the working of the social law by which the need and the means of supplying it are correlated。 Herein lies the whole story。 Races who have no wants are always poor。 When I first came to live here in this township； there were about a hundred and thirty peasant families in it； and some two hundred hearths in the valley。 The local authorities were such as might be expected in the prevailing wretchedness of the population。 The mayor himself could not write； and the deputy…mayor was a small farmer； who lived beyond the limits of the Commune。 The justice of the peace was a poor devil who had nothing but his salary； and who was forced to relinquish the registration of births； marriages； and deaths to his clerk； another hapless wretch who was scarcely able to understand his duties。 The old cure had died at the age of seventy； and his curate； a quite uneducated man； had just succeeded to his position。 These people comprised all the intelligence of the district over which they ruled。
〃Those who dwelt amidst these lovely natural surroundings groveled in squalor and lived upon potatoes； milk； butter； and cheese。 The only produce that brought in any money