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〃Then would you only do people a good turn in order to receive that exorbitant interest called gratitude？〃 said Benassis； laughing。 〃That would be asking a great deal for your outlay。〃
〃Oh； I know quite well that all the merit of a good deed evaporates at once if it benefits the doer in the slightest degree；〃 said Genestas。 〃If he tells the story of it； the toll brought in to his vanity is a sufficient substitute for gratitude。 But if every doer of kindly actions always held his tongue about them； those who reaped the benefits would hardly say very much either。 Now the people； according to your system； stand in need of examples； and how are they to hear of them amid this general reticence？ Again； there is this poor pontooner of ours； who saved the whole French army； and who was never able to tell his tale to any purpose； suppose that he had lost the use of his limbs； would the consciousness of what he had done have found him in bread？ Answer me that； philosopher！〃
〃Perhaps the rules of morality cannot be absolute；〃 Benassis answered； 〃though this is a dangerous idea； for it leaves the egoist free to settle cases of conscience in his own favor。 Listen； captain； is not the man who never swerves from the principles of morality greater than he who transgresses them； even through necessity？ Would not our veteran； dying of hunger； and unable to help himself； be worthy of rank with Homer？ Human life is doubtless a final trial of virtue as of genius； for both of which a better world is waiting。 Virtue and genius seem to me to be the fairest forms of that complete and constant surrender of self that Jesus Christ came among men to teach。 Genius sheds its light in the world and lives in poverty all its days； and virtue sacrifices itself in silence for the general good。〃
〃I quite agree with you； sir；〃 said Genestas； 〃but those who dwell on earth are men after all； and not angels； we are not perfect。〃
〃That is quite true；〃 Benassis answered。 〃And as for errors； I myself have abused the indulgence。 But ought we not to aim； at any rate； at perfection？ Is not virtue a fair ideal which the soul must always keep before it； a standard set up by Heaven？〃
〃Amen；〃 said the soldier。 〃An upright man is a magnificent thing； I grant you； but； on the other hand； you must admit that virtue is a divinity who may indulge in a scrap of gossip now and then in the strictest propriety。〃
The doctor smiled； but there was a melancholy bitterness in his tone as he said； 〃Ah！ sir； you regard things with the lenience natural to those who live at peace with themselves； and I with all the severity of one who sees much that he would fain obliterate in the story of his life。〃
The two horsemen reached a cottage beside the bed of the torrent； the doctor dismounted and went into the house。 Genestas； on the threshold； looked over the bright spring landscape that lay without； and then at the dark interior of the cottage； where a man was lying in bed。 Benassis examined his patient； and suddenly exclaimed； 〃My good woman； it is no use my coming here unless you carry out my instructions！ You have been giving him bread； you want to kill your husband； I suppose？ Botheration！ If after this you give him anything besides the tisane of couch…grass； I will never set foot in here again； and you can look where you like for another doctor。〃
〃But； dear M。 Benassis； my old man was starving； and when he had eaten nothing for a whole fortnight〃
〃Oh； yes； yes。 Now will you listen to me。 If you let your husband eat a single mouthful of bread before I give him leave to take solid food； you will kill him； do you hear？〃
〃He shall not have anything； sir。 Is he any better？〃 she asked； following the doctor to the door。
〃Why； no。 You have made him worse by feeding him。 Shall I never get it into your stupid heads that you must not stuff people who are being dieted？〃
〃The peasants are incorrigible；〃 Benassis went on； speaking to Genestas。 〃If a patient has eaten nothing for two or three days； they think he is at death's door； and they cram him with soup or wine or something。 Here is a wretched woman for you that has all but killed her husband。〃
〃Kill my husband with a little mite of a sop in wine！〃
〃Certainly； my good woman。 It amazes me that he is still alive after the mess you cooked for him。 Mind that you do exactly as I have told you。〃
〃Yes； dear sir； I would far rather die myself than lose him。〃
〃Oh！ as to that I shall soon see。 I shall come again to…morrow evening to bleed him。〃
〃Let us walk along the side of the stream；〃 Benassis said to Genestas； 〃there is only a footpath between this cottage and the next house where I must pay a call。 That man's little boy will hold our horses。〃
〃You must admire this lovely valley of ours a little；〃 he went on； 〃it is like an English garden； is it not？ The laborer who lives in the cottage which we are going to visit has never got over the death of one of his children。 The eldest boy； he was only a lad； would try to do a man's work last harvest…tide； it was beyond his strength； and before the autumn was out he died of a decline。 This is the first case of really strong fatherly love that has come under my notice。 As a rule； when their children die； the peasant's regret is for the loss of a useful chattel； and a part of their stock…in…trade； and the older the child； the heavier their sense of loss。 A grown…up son or daughter is so much capital to the parents。 But this poor fellow really loved that boy of his。 'Nothing cam comfort me for my loss；' he said one day when I came across him out in the fields。 He had forgotten all about his work； and was standing there motionless； leaning on his scythe； he had picked up his hone； it lay in his hand； and he had forgotten to use it。 He has never spoken since of his grief to me； but he has grown sad and silent。 Just now it is one of his little girls who is ill。〃
Benassis and his guest reached the little house as they talked。 It stood beside a pathway that led to a bark…mill。 They saw a man about forty years of age； standing under a willow tree； eating bread that had been rubbed with a clove of garlic。
〃Well； Gasnier； is the little one doing better？〃
〃I do not know； sir；〃 he said dejectedly； 〃you will see； my wife is sitting with her。 In spite of all your care； I am very much afraid that death will come to empty my home for me。〃
〃Do not lose heart； Gasnier。 Death is too busy to take up his abode in any dwelling。〃
Benassis went into the house； followed by the father。 Half an hour later he came out again。 The mother was with him this time； and he spoke to her； 〃You need have no anxiety about her now； follow out my instructions； she is out of danger。〃
〃If you are growing tired of this sort of thing；〃 the doctor said to the officer； as he mounted his horse； 〃I can put you on the way to the town； and you can return。〃
〃No； I am not tired of it； I give you my word。〃
〃But you will only see cottages everywhere； and they are all alike； nothing； to outward seeming； is more monotonous than the country。〃
〃Let us go on；〃 said the officer。
They rode on in this way for several hours； and after going from one side of the canton to the other； they returned towards evening to the precincts of the town。
〃I must just go over there；〃 the doctor said to Genestas； as he pointed out a place where a cluster of elm…trees grew。 〃Those trees may possibly be two hundred years old；〃 he went on； 〃and that is where the woman lives； on whose account the lad came to fetch me last night at dinner； with a message that she had turned quite white。〃
〃Was it anything serious？〃
〃No；〃 said Benassis； 〃an effect of pregnancy。 It is the last month with her； a time at which some women suffer from spasms。 But by way of precaution； I must go in any case to make sure that there are no further alarming symptoms； I shall see her through her confinement myself。 And； moreover； I should like to show you one of our new industries； there is a brick…field here。 It is a good road； shall we gallop？〃
〃Will your animal keep up with mine？〃 asked Genestas。 〃Heigh！ Neptune！〃 he called to his horse； and in a moment the officer had been carried far ahead； and was lost to sight in a cloud of dust； but