the country doctor-第15部分

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e　it；　and　a　threadbare　strip　of　carpet　lay　at　the　foot；　it　was　like　a　bed　in　a　hospital。　By　the　bed…head　stood　a　rickety　cupboard　on　four　feet　with　a　door　that　continually　rattled　with　a　sound　like　castanets。　Three　chairs　and　a　couple　of　straw…　bottomed　armchairs　stood　about　the　room；　and　on　a　low　chest　of　drawers　in　walnut　wood　stood　a　basin；　and　a　ewer　of　obsolete　pattern　with　a　lid；　which　was　kept　in　place　by　a　leaden　rim　round　the　top　of　the　vessel。　This　completed　the　list　of　the　furniture。

The　grate　was　empty。　All　the　apparatus　required　for　shaving　lay　about　in　front　of　an　old　mirror　suspended　above　the　painted　stone　chimney…　piece　by　a　bit　of　string。　The　floor　was　clean　and　carefully　swept；　but　it　was　worn　and　splintered　in　various　places；　and　there　were　hollows　in　it　here　and　there。　Gray　cotton　curtains　bordered　with　a　green　fringe　adorned　the　two　windows。　The　scrupulous　cleanliness　maintained　by　Jacquotte　gave　a　certain　air　of　distinction　to　this　picture　of　simplicity；　but　everything　in　it；　down　to　the　round　table　littered　with　stray　papers；　and　the　very　pens　on　the　writing…desk；　gave　the　idea　of　an　almost　monastic　lifea　life　so　wholly　filled　with　thought　and　feeling　of　a　wider　kind　that　outward　surroundings　had　come　to　be　matters　of　no　moment。　An　open　door　allowed　the　commandant　to　see　the　smaller　room；　which　doubtless　the　doctor　seldom　occupied。　It　was　scarcely　kept　in　the　same　condition　as　the　adjoining　apartment；　a　few　dusty　books　lay　strewn　about　over　the　no　less　dusty　shelves；　and　from　the　rows　of　labeled　bottles　it　was　easy　to　guess　that　the　place　was　devoted　rather　to　the　dispensing　of　drugs　than　scientific　studies。

〃Why　this　difference　between　your　room　and　mine；　you　will　ask？〃　said　Benassis。　〃Listen　a　moment。　I　have　always　blushed　for　those　who　put　their　guests　in　the　attics；　who　furnish　them　with　mirrors　that　distort　everything　to　such　a　degree　that　any　one　beholding　himself　might　think　that　he　was　smaller　or　larger　than　nature　made　him；　or　suffering　from　apoplectic　stroke　or　some　other　bad　complaint。　Ought　we　not　to　do　our　utmost　to　make　a　room　as　pleasant　as　possible　during　the　time　that　our　friend　can　be　with　us？　Hospitality；　to　my　thinking；　is　a　virtue；　a　pleasure；　and　a　luxury；　but　in　whatever　light　it　is　considered；　nay；　even　if　you　regard　it　as　a　speculation；　ought　not　our　guest　or　our　friend　to　be　made　much　of？　Ought　not　every　refinement　of　luxury　to　be　reserved　for　him？

〃So　the　best　furniture　is　put　into　your　room；　where　a　thick　carpet　is　laid　down；　there　are　hangings　on　the　walls；　and　a　clock　and　wax　candles；　and　for　you　Jacquotte　will　do　her　best；　she　has　no　doubt　brought　a　night…light；　and　a　pair　of　new　slippers　and　some　milk；　and　her　warming…pan　too　for　your　benefit。　I　hope　that　you　will　find　that　luxurious　armchair　the　most　comfortable　seat　you　have　ever　sat　in；　it　was　a　discovery　of　the　late　cure's；　I　do　not　know　where　he　found　it；　but　it　is　a　fact　that　if　you　wish　to　meet　with　the　perfection　of　comfort；　beauty；　or　convenience；　you　must　ask　counsel　of　the　Church。　Well；　I　hope　that　you　will　find　everything　in　your　room　to　your　liking。　You　will　find　some　good　razors　and　excellent　soap；　and　all　the　trifling　details　that　make　one's　own　home　so　pleasant。　And　if　my　views　on　the　subject　of　hospitality　should　not　at　once　explain　the　difference　between　your　room　and　mine；　to…morrow；　M。　Bluteau；　you　will　arrive　at　a　wonderfully　clear　comprehension　of　the　bareness　of　my　room　and　the　untidy　condition　of　my　study；　when　you　see　all　the　continual　comings　and　goings　here。　Mine　is　not　an　indoor　life；　to　begin　with。　I　am　almost　always　out　of　the　house；　and　if　I　stay　at　home；　peasants　come　in　at　every　moment　to　speak　to　me。　My　body　and　soul　and　house　are　all　theirs。　Why　should　I　worry　about　social　conventions　in　these　matters；　or　trouble　myself　over　the　damage　unintentionally　done　to　floors　and　furniture　by　these　worthy　folk？　Such　things　cannot　be　helped。　Luxury　properly　belongs　to　the　boudoir　and　the　guest…chamber；　to　great　houses　and　chateaux。　In　short；　as　I　scarcely　do　more　than　sleep　here；　what　do　I　want　with　superfluities　of　wealth？　You　do　not　know；　moreover；　how　little　I　care　for　anything　in　this　world。〃

They　wished　each　other　a　friendly　good…night　with　a　warm　shake　of　the　hand；　and　went　to　bed。　But　before　the　commandant　slept；　he　came　to　more　than　one　conclusion　as　to　the　man　who　hour　by　hour　grew　greater　in　his　eyes。



CHAPTER　II

A　DOCTOR'S　ROUND

The　first　thing　next　morning　Genestas　went　to　the　stable；　drawn　thither　by　the　affection　that　every　man　feels　for　the　horse　that　he　rides。　Nicolle's　method　of　rubbing　down　the　animal　was　quite　satisfactory。

〃Up　already；　Commandant　Bluteau？〃　cried　Benassis；　as　he　came　upon　his　guest。　〃You　hear　the　drum　beat　in　the　morning　wherever　you　go；　even　in　the　country！　You　are　a　regular　soldier！〃

〃Are　you　all　right？〃　replied　Genestas；　holding　out　his　hand　with　a　friendly　gesture。

〃I　am　never　really　all　right；〃　answered　Benassis；　half　merrily；　half　sadly。

〃Did　you　sleep　well；　sir？〃　inquired　Jacquotte。

〃Faith；　yes；　my　beauty；　the　bed　as　you　made　it　was　fit　for　a　queen。〃

Jacquotte's　face　beamed　as　she　followed　her　master　and　his　guest；　and　when　she　had　seen　them　seat　themselves　at　table；　she　remarked　to　Nicolle：

〃He　is　not　a　bad　sort；　after　all；　that　officer　gentleman。〃

〃I　am　sure　he　is　not；　he　has　given　me　two　francs　already。〃



〃We　will　begin　to…day　by　calling　at　two　places　where　there　have　been　deaths；〃　Benassis　said　to　his　visitor　as　they　left　the　dining…room。　〃Although　doctors　seldom　deign　to　confront　their　supposed　victims；　I　will　take　you　round　to　the　two　houses；　where　you　will　be　able　to　make　some　interesting　observations　of　human　nature；　and　the　scenes　to　which　you　will　be　a　witness　will　show　you　that　in　the　expression　of　their　feelings　our　folk　among　the　hills　differ　greatly　from　the　dwellers　in　the　lowlands。　Up　among　the　mountain　peaks　in　our　canton　they　cling　to　customs　that　bear　the　impress　of　an　older　time；　and　that　vaguely　recall　scenes　in　the　Bible。　Nature　has　traced　out　a　line　over　our　mountain　ranges；　the　whole　appearance　of　the　country　is　different　on　either　side　of　it。　You　will　find　strength　of　character　up　above；　flexibility　and　quickness　below；　they　have　larger　ways　of　regarding　things　among　the　hills；　while　the　bent　of　the　lowlands　is　always　towards　the　material　interests　of　existence。　I　have　never　seen　a　difference　so　strongly　marked；　unless　it　has　been　in　the　Val　d'Ajou；　where　the　northern　side　is　peopled　by　a　tribe　of　idiots；　and　the　southern　by　an　intelligent　race。　There　is　nothing　but　a　stream　in　the　valley　bottom　to　separate　these　two　populations；　which　are　utterly　dissimilar　in　every　respect；　as　different　in　face　and　stature　as　in　manners；　customs；　and　occupation。　A　fact　of　this　kind　should　compel　those　who　govern　a　country　to　make　very　extensive　studies　of　local　differences　before　passing　laws　that　are　to　affect　the　great　mass　of　the　people。　But　the　horses　are　ready；　let　us　start！〃

In　a　short　time　the　two　horsemen　reached　a　house　in　a　part　of　the　township　that　was　overlooked　by　the　mountains　of　the　Grande　Chartreuse。　Before　the　door　of　the　dwelling；　which　was　fairly　clean　and　tidy；　they　saw　a　coffin　set　upon　two　chairs；　and　covered　with　a　black　pall。　Four　tall　candles　stood　about　it；　and　on　a　stool　near　by　there　was　a　shallow　brass　dish　full　of　holy　water；　in　which　a　branch　of　green　box…wood　was　steeping。　Every　passer…by　went　into　the　yard；　knelt　by　the　side　of　the　dead；　said　a　Pater　noster；　and　sprinkled　a　few　drops　of　holy　water　on　the　bier。　Above　the　black　cloth　that　covered　the　coffin　rose　the　green　sprays　of　a　jessamine　that　grew　beside　the　doorway；　and　a　twisted　vine　shoot；　already　in　leaf；　overran　the　lintel。　Even　the　saddest　ceremonies　demand　that　things　shall　appear　to　the　best　advantage；　and　in　obedience　to　this　vaguely…felt　requirement　a　young　girl　had　been　sweeping　the　front　of　the　house。　The　dead　man's　eldest　son；　a　young　peasant　about　twenty…two　years　of　age；　stood　motionless；　leaning　against　the　door…post。　The　tears　in　his　eyes　came　and　went　without　falling；　or　perhaps　he　furtively　brushed　them　away。　Benassis　and　Genestas　saw　all　the　details　of　this　scene　as　they　stood　beyond　the　low　wall；　they　fastened　their　horses　to　one　of　the　row　of　poplar　trees　that　grew　along　it；　and　entered　the　yard　just　as　the　widow　came　out　of　the　byre。　A　woman　carrying　a　jug　of　milk　was　with　her；　and　spoke。

〃Try　to　bear　up　bravely；　my　poor　Pelletier；〃　she　said。

〃Ah！　my　dear；　after　twenty…five　years　of　life　together；　it　is　very　hard　to　lose　your　man；〃　and　her　eyes　brimmed　over　with　tears。　〃Will　you　pay　the　two　sous？〃　she　added；　after　a　moment；　as　she　held　out　her　hand　to　her　neighbor。

〃There；　now！　I　had　forgotten　about　it；〃　said　the　other　woman；　giving　her　the　coin。　〃Come；　neighbor；　don't　take　on　so。　Ah！　there　is　M。　Benassis！〃

〃Well；　poor　mother；　how　are　you　going　on？　A　little　better？〃　asked　the　doctor。

〃DAME！〃　she　said；　as　the　tears　fell　fast；　〃we　must　go　on；　all　the　same；　that　is　certain。　I　tell　myself　that　my　man　is　out　of　pain　now。　He　suffered　so　terribly！　But　come　inside；　sir。　Jacques；　set　some　chairs　for　these　gentlemen。　Come；　stir　yourself　a　bit。　Lord　bless　you！　if　you　were　to　stop　there　for　a　century；　it　would　not　bring　your　poor　father　back　again。　And　now；　you　will　have　to　do　the　work　of　two。〃

〃No；　no　good　woman；　leave　your　son　alone；　we　will　not　sit　down。　You　have　a　boy　there　who　will　take　care　of　you；　and　who　is　quite　fit　to　take　his　father's　place。〃

〃Go　and　change　your　clothes；　Jacques；〃　cried　the　widow；　〃you　will　be　wanted　directly。〃

〃Well；　good…bye；　mother；〃　said　Benassis。

〃Your　servant；　gentlemen。〃

〃Here；　you　see；　death　is　looked　upon　as　an　event　for　which　every　one　is　prepared；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃it　brings　no　interruption　to　the　course　of　family　life；　and　they　will　not　even　wear　mourning　of　any　kind。　No　one　cares　to　be　at　the　expense　of　it；　they　are　all　either　too　poor　or　too　parsimonious　in　the　villages　hereabouts；　so　that　mourning　is　unknown　in　country　districts。　Yet　the　custom　of　wearing　mourning　is　something　better　than　a　law　or　a　usage；　it　is　an　institution　somewhat　akin　to　all　moral　obligations。　But　in　spite　of　our　endeavors　neither　M。　Janvier　nor　I　have　succeeded　i