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The wide landscape seemed at that moment to have found a voice whose purity； and sweetness equaled its own sweetness and purity； a voice as mournful as the dying light in the westfor a vague reminder of Death is divinely set in the heavens； and the sun above gives the same warning that is given here on earth by the flowers and the bright insects of the day。 There is a tinge of sadness about the radiance of sunset； and the melody was sad。 It was a song widely known in the days of yore； a ballad of love and sorrow that once had served to stir a national hatred of France for England。 Beaumarchais； in a later day； had given it back its true poetry by adapting it for the French theatre and putting it into the mouth of a page； who pours out his heart to his stepmother。 Just now it was simply the air that rose and fell。 There were no words； the plaintive voice of the singer touched and thrilled the soul。
〃It is the swan's song；〃 said Benassis。 〃That voice does not sound twice in a century for human ears。 Let us hurry； we must put a stop to the singing！ The child is killing himself； it would be cruel to listen to him any longer。 Be quiet； Jacques！ Come； come； be quiet！〃 cried the doctor。
The music ceased。 Genestas stood motionless and overcome with astonishment。 A cloud had drifted across the sun； the landscape and the voice were both mute。 Shadow； chillness； and silence had taken the place of the soft glory of the light； the warm breath of the breeze； and the child's singing。
〃What makes you disobey me？〃 asked Benassis。 〃I shall not bring you any more rice pudding nor snail broth！ No more fresh dates and white bread for you！ So you want to die and break your poor mother's heart； do you？〃
Genestas came into a little yard； which was sufficiently clean and tidily kept； and saw before him a lad of fifteen； who looked as delicate as a woman。 His hair was fair but scanty； and the color in his face was so bright that it seemed hardly natural。 He rose up slowly from the bench where he was sitting； beneath a thick bush of jessamine and some blossoming lilacs that were running riot； so that he was almost hidden among the leaves。
〃You know very well；〃 said the doctor； 〃that I told you not to talk； not to expose yourself to the chilly evening air； and to go to bed as soon as the sun was set。 What put it into your head to sing？〃
〃DAME！ M。 Benassis； it was so very warm out here； and it is so nice to feel warm！ I am always cold。 I felt so happy that without thinking I began to try over Malbrouk s'en va…t…en guerre； just for fun； and then I began to listen to myself because my voice was something like the sound of the flute your shepherd plays。〃
〃Well； my poor Jacques； this must not happen again； do you hear？ Let me have your hand；〃 and the doctor felt his pulse。
The boy's eyes had their usual sweet expression； but just now they shone with a feverish light。
〃It is just as I thought； you are covered with perspiration；〃 said Benassis。 〃Your mother has not come in yet？〃
〃No； sir。〃
〃Come！ go in…doors and get into bed。〃
The young invalid went back into the cottage； followed by Benassis and the officer。
〃Just light a candle； Captain Bluteau；〃 said the doctor； who was helping Jacques to take off his rough； tattered clothing。
When Genestas had struck a light； and the interior of the room was visible； he was surprised by the extreme thinness of the child； who seemed to be little more than skin and bone。 When the little peasant had been put to bed； Benassis tapped the lad's chest； and listened to the ominous sounds made in this way by his fingers； then； after some deliberation； he drew back the coverlet over Jacques； stepped back a few paces； folded his arms across his chest； and closely scrutinized his patient。
〃How do you feel； my little man？〃
〃Quite comfortable； sir。〃
A table； with four spindle legs； stood in the room； the doctor drew it up to the bed； found a tumbler and a phial on the mantel…shelf； and composed a draught； by carefully measuring a few drops of brown liquid from the phial into some water； Genestas holding the light the while。
〃Your mother is very late。〃
〃She is coming； sir；〃 said the child； 〃I can hear her footsteps on the path。〃
The doctor and the officer looked around them while they waited。 At the foot of the bed there was a sort of mattress made of moss； on which； doubtless； the mother was wont to sleep in her clothes； for there were neither sheets nor coverlet。 Genestas pointed out this bed to Benassis； who nodded slightly to show that he likewise had already admired this motherly devotion。 There was a clatter of sabots in the yard； and the doctor went out。
〃You will have to sit up with Jacques to…night； Mother Colas。 If he tells you that his breathing is bad； you must let him drink some of the draught that I have poured into the tumbler on the table。 Take care not to let him have more than two or three sips at a time； there ought to be enough in the tumbler to last him all through the night。 Above all things； do not touch the phial； and change the child's clothing at once。 He is perspiring heavily。〃
〃I could not manage to wash his shirts to…day； sir； I had to take the hemp over to Grenoble； as we wanted the money。〃
〃Very well； then； I will send you some shirts。〃
〃Then is he worse； my poor lad？〃 asked the woman。
〃He has been so imprudent as to sing； Mother Colas； and it is not to be expected that any good can come of it； but do not be hard upon him； nor scold him。 Do not be down…hearted about it； and if Jacques complains overmuch； send a neighbor to fetch me。 Good…bye。〃
The doctor called to his friend； and they went back along the foot… path。
〃Is that little peasant consumptive？〃 asked Genestas。
〃Mon Dieu！ yes；〃 answered Benassis。 〃Science cannot save him； unless Nature works a miracle。 Our professors at the Ecole de Medecine in Paris often used to speak to us of the phenomenon which you have just witnessed。 Some maladies of this kind bring about changes in the voice…producing organs that give the sufferer a short…lived power of song that no trained voice can surpass。 I have made you spend a melancholy day； sir；〃 said the doctor when he was once more in the saddle。 〃Suffering and death everywhere； but everywhere also resignation。 All these peasant folk take death philosophically； they fall ill； say nothing about it； and take to their beds like dumb animals。 But let us say no more about death； and let us quicken our horses' paces a little； we ought to reach the town before nightfall； so that you may see the new quarter。〃
〃Eh！ some place is on fire over there；〃 said Genestas； pointing to a spot on the mountain； where a sheaf of flames was rising。
〃It is not a dangerous fire。 Our lime…burner is heating his kiln； no doubt。 It is a newly…started industry； which turns our heather to account。〃
There was the sudden report of a gun； followed by an involuntary exclamation from Benassis； who said； with an impatient gesture； 〃If that is Butifer； we shall see which of us two is the stronger。〃
〃The shot came from that quarter；〃 said Genestas； indicating a beech… wood up above them on the mountain side。 〃Yes； up there； you may trust an old soldier's ear。〃
〃Let us go there at once！〃 cried Benassis； and he made straight for the little wood； urging his horse at a furious speed across the ditches and fields； as if he were riding a steeplechase； in his anxiety to catch the sportsman red…handed。
〃The man you are after has made off；〃 shouted Genestas； who could scarcely keep up with him。
Benassis wheeled his horse round sharply； and came back again。 The man of whom he was in search soon appeared on the top of a perpendicular crag； a hundred feet above the level of the two horsemen。
〃Butifer！〃 shouted Benassis when he saw that this figure carried a fowling…piece； 〃come down！〃
Butifer recognized the doctor； and replied by a respectful and friendly sign which showed that he had every intention of obeying。
〃I can imagine that if a man were driven to it by fear or by some overmastering impulse that he might possibly contrive to scramble up to that point among the rocks；〃 said Genestas； 〃but how will he manage to come down again？〃
〃I have no anxiety on