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naccessible place high up among the hills； where he stays for two days at a time； living on dry crusts。 In short； danger is as welcome to him as sleep would be to anybody else； and by dint of experience he has acquired a relish for extreme sensations that has totally unfitted him for ordinary life。 It vexes me that a man like that should take a wrong turn and gradually go to the bad； become a bandit； and die on the gallows。 But； see； captain； how our village looks from here！〃
Genestas obtained a distant view of a wide circular space； planted with trees； a fountain surrounded by poplars stood in the middle of it。 Round the enclosure were high banks on which a triple line of trees of different kinds were growing； the first row consisted of acacias； the second of Japanese varnish trees； and some young elms grew on the highest row of all。
〃That is where we hold our fair；〃 said Benassis。 〃That is the beginning of the High Street； by those two handsome houses that I told you about； one belongs to the notary； and the other to the justice of the peace。〃
They came at that moment into a broad road； fairly evenly paved with large cobble…stones。 There were altogether about a hundred new houses on either side of it； and almost every house stood in a garden。
The view of the church with its doorway made a pretty termination to this road。 Two more roads had been recently planned out half…way down the course of the first； and many new houses had already been built along them。 The town…hall stood opposite the parsonage； in the square by the church。 As Benassis went down the road； women and children stood in their doorways to wish him good…evening； the men took off their caps； and the little children danced and shouted about his horse； as if the animal's good…nature were as well known as the kindness of its master。 The gladness was undemonstrative； there was the instinctive delicacy of all deep feeling about it； and it had the same pervasive power。 At the sight of this welcome it seemed to Genestas that the doctor had been too modest in his description of the affection with which he was regarded by the people of the district。 His truly was a sovereignty of the sweetest kind； a right royal sovereignty moreover； for its title was engraven in the hearts of its subjects。 However dazzling the rays of glory that surround a man； however great the power that he enjoys； in his inmost soul he soon comes to a just estimate of the sentiments that all external action causes for him。 He very soon sees that no change has been wrought in him； that there is nothing new and nothing greater in the exercise of his physical faculties； and discovers his own real nothingness。 Kings； even should they rule over the whole world； are condemned to live in a narrow circle like other men。 They must even submit to the conditions of their lot； and their happiness depends upon the personal impressions that they receive。 But Benassis met with nothing but goodwill and loyalty throughout the district。
CHAPTER III
THE NAPOLEON OF THE PEOPLE
〃Pray； come in； sir！〃 cried Jacquotte。 〃A pretty time the gentlemen have been waiting for you！ It is always the way！ You always manage to spoil the dinner for me whenever it ought to be particularly good。 Everything is cooked to death by this time〃
〃Oh！ well； here we are；〃 answered Benassis with a smile。
The two horsemen dismounted； and went off to the salon； where the guests invited by the doctor were assembled。
〃Gentlemen；〃 he said taking Genestas by the hand； 〃I have the honor of introducing you to M。 Bluteau； captain of a regiment of cavalry stationed at Grenoblean old soldier； who has promised me that he will stay among us for a little while。〃
Then； turning to Genestas； he presented to him a tall； thin； gray… haired man； dressed in black。
〃This gentleman；〃 said Benassis； 〃is M。 Dufau； the justice of the peace of whom I have already spoken to you； and who has so largely contributed to the prosperity of the Commune。〃 Then he led his guest up to a pale； slight young man of middle height； who wore spectacles； and was also dressed in black。 〃And this is M。 Tonnelet；〃 he went on； 〃M。 Gravier's son…in…law； and the first notary who came to the village。〃
The doctor next turned to a stout man； who seemed to belong half to the peasant； half to the middle class； the owner of a rough…pimpled but good…humored countenance。
〃This is my worthy colleague M。 Cambon；〃 he went on； the timber… merchant； to whom I owe the confidence and good…will of the people here。 He was one of the promoters of the road which you have admired。 I have no need to tell you the profession of this gentleman；〃 Benassis added； turning to the curate。 〃Here is a man whom no one can help loving。〃
There was an irresistible attraction in the moral beauty expressed by the cure's countenance； which engrossed Genestas' attention。 Yet a certain harshness and austerity of outline might make M。 Janvier's face seem unpleasing at a first glance。 His attitude； and his slight； emaciated frame； showed that he was far from strong physically； but the unchanging serenity of his face bore witness to the profound inward peace of heart。 Heaven seemed to be reflected in his eyes； and the inextinguishable fervor of charity which glowed in his heart appeared to shine from them。 The gestures that he made but rarely were simple and natural； his appeared to be a quiet and retiring nature； and there was a modesty and simplicity like that of a young girl about his actions。 At first sight he inspired respect and a vague desire to be admitted to his friendship。
〃Ah！ M。 le Maire；〃 he said； bending as though to escape from Benassis' eulogium。
Something in the cure's tones brought a thrill to Genestas' heart； and the two insignificant words uttered by this stranger priest plunged him into musings that were almost devout。
〃Gentlemen；〃 said Jacquotte； who came into the middle of the room； and there took her stand； with her hands on her hips； 〃the soup is on the table。〃
Invited by Benassis； who summoned each in turn so as to avoid questions of precedence； the doctor's five guests went into the dining…room； and after the cure； in low and quiet tones； had repeated a Benedicite； they took their places at table。 The cloth that covered the table was of that peculiar kind of damask linen invented in the time of Henry IV。 by the brothers Graindorge； the skilful weavers； who gave their name to the heavy fabric so well known to housekeepers。 The linen was of dazzling whiteness； and fragrant with the scent of the thyme that Jacquotte always put into her wash…tubs。 The dinner service was of white porcelain； edged with blue； and was in perfect order。 The decanters were of the old…fashioned octagonal kind still in use in the provinces； though they have disappeared elsewhere。 Grotesque figures had been carved on the horn handles of the knives。 These relics of ancient splendor； which； nevertheless； looked almost new； seemed to those who scrutinized them to be in keeping with the kindly and open… hearted nature of the master of the house。
The lid of the soup…tureen drew a momentary glance from Genestas； he noticed that it was surmounted by a group of vegetables in high relief； skilfully colored after the manner of Bernard Palissy； the celebrated sixteenth century craftsman。
There was no lack of character about the group of men thus assembled。 The powerful heads of Genestas and Benassis contrasted admirably with M。 Janvier's apostolic countenance； and in the same fashion the elderly faces of the justice of the peace and the deputy…mayor brought out the youthfulness of the notary。 Society seemed to be represented by these various types。 The expression of each one indicated contentment with himself and with the present； and a faith in the future。 M。 Tonnelet and M。 Janvier； who were still young； loved to make forecasts of coming events； for they felt that the future was theirs； while the other guests were fain rather to turn their talk upon the past。 All of them faced the things of life seriously； and their opinions seemed to reflect a double tinge of soberness； on the one hand； from the twilight hues of well…nigh forgotten joys that could never more be revived for them； and； on the