in　which　to　learn　to　read　and　write；　and　then　I　will　find　some　young　gentleman　who　wants　a　substitute。〃
  Butifer　looked　at　the　mountains。
  〃Oh！　you　shall　not　go　to　the　Alps；〃　cried　Benassis。　〃A　man　like　you；　a　man　of　his　word；　with　plenty　of　good　stuff　in　him；　ought　to　serve　his　country　and　command　a　brigade；　and　not　come　to　his　end　trailing　after　a　chamois。　The　life　that　you　are　leading　will　take　you　straight　to　the　convict's　prison。　After　over…fatiguing　yourself；　you　are　obliged　to　take　a　long　rest；　and；　in　the　end；　you　will　fall　into　idle　ways　that　will　be　the　ruin　of　any　notions　of　orderly　existence　that　you　have；　you　will　get　into　the　habit　of　putting　your　strength　to　bad　uses；　and　you　will　take　the　law　into　your　own　hands。　I　want　to　put　you；　in　spite　of　yourself；　into　the　right　path。〃
  〃So　I　am　to　pine　and　fret　myself　to　death？　I　feel　suffocated　whenever　I　am　in　a　town。　I　cannot　hold　out　for　more　than　a　day；　in　Grenoble；　when　I　take　Louise　there〃
  〃We　all　have　our　whims；　which　we　must　manage　to　control；　or　turn　them　to　account　for　our　neighbor's　benefit。　But　it　is　late；　and　I　am　in　a　hurry。　Come　to　see　me　to…morrow；　and　bring　your　gun　along　with　you。　We　will　talk　this　over；　my　boy。　Good…bye。　Go　and　sell　your　chamois　in　Grenoble。〃
  The　two　horsemen　went　on　their　way。
  〃That　is　what　I　call　a　man；〃　said　Genestas。
  〃A　man　in　a　bad　way；〃　answered　Benassis。　〃But　what　help　is　there　for　it？　You　heard　what　he　said。　Is　it　not　lamentable　to　see　such　fine　qualities　running　to　waste？　If　France　were　invaded　by　a　foreign　foe；　Butifer　at　the　head　of　a　hundred　young　fellows　would　keep　a　whole　division　busy　in　Maurienne　for　a　month；　but　in　a　time　of　peace　the　only　outlets　for　his　energy　are　those　which　set　the　law　at　defiance。　He　must　wrestle　with　something；　whenever　he　is　not　risking　his　neck　he　is　at　odds　with　society；　he　lends　a　helping　hand　to　smugglers。　The　rogue　will　cross　the　Rhone；　all　by　himself；　in　a　little　boat；　to　take　shoes　over　into　Savoy；　he　makes　good　his　retreat；　heavy　laden　as　he　is；　to　some　inaccessible　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；　s