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Updated: June 18, 2025
The sunshine slept upon the herbage of the empty expanse, into which the funeral procession passed, chanting the last verse of the Miserere. Then silence fell. 'Requiem oeternam dona ei, Domine, resumed Abbe Mouret, in solemn tones. 'Et lux perpetua luceat ei, Brother Archangias bellowed.
Brother Archangias was always on the watch to keep out the sunlight, to prevent even a whiff of air from entering, to shut up his prison so completely that nothing from outside could gain access to it. He noted the Abbe's slightest fits of weakness, and by his glance divined his tender thoughts, which with a word he pitilessly crushed, as though they were poisonous vermin.
'Monsieur Caffin used to tell me everything, she moaned out. However, she soon grew calmer. Brother Archangias was finishing a big piece of cheese, apparently quite unruffled by the scene. In his opinion Abbe Mouret really needed being kept straight, and La Teuse was right in making him feel the reins.
'Just fancy, this rascal is always poking his nose into the graveyard. I don't know what he can be up to here. I ought to let go of him and let him smash his skull down there. It would be what he deserves. The lad remained dumb, with his cunning eyes tight shut as he clung to the bushes. 'Take care, Brother Archangias, continued the priest, 'he might slip.
It was quite dark now, and Brother Archangias stumbled about amongst the chairs and nearly fell. He growled and muttered some angry words, in which the names of Jesus and Mary recurred. When La Teuse, who had gone for a lamp, returned into the church, she asked the priest: 'So I can put the brushes and pots away in the attic, then? 'Yes, he answered. 'I have finished.
A heavy step set the pebbles rolling on the other side of the wall. A growl of anger seemed to draw nigh. Albine had not been mistaken. Some one was, indeed, there, disturbing the woodland quiet with jealous inquisition. Then both Albine and Serge, as if overwhelmed with shame, sought to bide themselves behind a bush. But Brother Archangias, standing in front of the breach, could already see them.
And then, amidst the final gasp of the flowers, Albine died. About three o'clock the next afternoon, La Teuse and Brother Archangias, who were chatting on the parsonage-steps, saw Doctor Pascal's gig come at full gallop through the village. The whip was being vigorously brandished from beneath the lowered hood. 'Where can he be off to at that rate? murmured the old servant.
Desiree, however, defended her plate. She covered the nest with her bare arms, no longer gay, but cross at being disturbed. 'I hope those birds are not going to be kept, exclaimed Brother Archangias. 'It would bring bad luck. You must wring their necks. And he already stretched out his big hands; but the girl rose and stepped back quivering, hugging the nest to her bosom.
Jeanbernat did not condescend to notice them, but went his way, upright like a tree, through the clear night. 'The accursed one! Satan carries him on! shrieked Brother Archangias, as he hurled his last stone. 'An old scoundrel, that the least touch ought to upset! But he is baked in hell's fire. I smelt his claws. The Brother stamped with impotent rage on the scattered flints.
But Brother Archangias, in a towering passion, raised himself on tiptoe behind him, and, stretching out his fist and wagging his churlish head, thundered forth: 'May the devil take you, you brigand's daughter! I will drag you right round the church by your hair if ever I catch you coming and casting your evil spells here!
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