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Devil take it, we haven't been bowling over the roads at this hour of the day to eat you, Jeanbernat. The old man calmed down a little. 'I don't want any shavelings here, he grumbled. 'They're enough to make one croak. Mind, doctor, no priests, and no physics when I go off, or we shall quarrel. Let him come in, however, as he is your nephew.
Doctor Pascal could not restrain a laugh. 'What, Jeanbernat! he said; 'ah, well! if ever you convert him! Never mind, come all the same. The sight of you is enough to cure him. The priest got in. The doctor, apparently regretting his jest, displayed an affectionate warmth of manner, whilst from time to time clucking his tongue by way of encouraging his horse.
'Ah! you are astonished that I know all about it! You hope for some monstrous result from it all. Every morning you make the thirteen signs of hell over that minx of yours! You would like her to become the mother of Antichrist. You long for Antichrist, you villain! But may this stone blind you! 'And may this one bung your mouth up! retorted Jeanbernat, who was now quite calm again.
'I am digging a hole, he answered simply. 'She always loved the garden, and it will please her to sleep here. The doctor nearly choked with emotion. For a moment he stood by the edge of the grave, incapable of speaking, but watching Jeanbernat as the other sturdily dug on. 'Where is she? he asked at last. 'Up there, in her room. I left her on the bed.
'Jeanbernat, you are a deceiver. I suspect you are in love, in spite of your affectation of being blase. You were speaking very tenderly of the trees and stones just now. 'Oh, no, I assure you, murmured the old man, 'I have done with that.
And between the Brother's successive insults he ejaculated in an undertone: 'Go on, go on; relieve yourself, you viper. I'll break your back for you by-and-by. Abbe Mouret tried to interfere, but Brother Archangias pushed him away, exclaiming: 'You are led by him yourself! Didn't he make you trample upon the cross? Deny it, if you dare! Then again, turning to Jeanbernat, he yelled: 'Ah!
Then, just as the Abbe Mouret was finishing the office, he calmly drew a knife from his pocket, opened it, and with a single cut sliced off the Brother's right ear. There had been no time for any one to interfere. The Brother gave a terrible yell. 'The left one will be for another occasion, said Jeanbernat quietly, as he threw the ear upon the ground. Then he went off.
He was afraid. Jeanbernat gave vent to a hearty laugh, and then went on: 'Just fancy, he had pledged himself that he would prove to me that God exists. So, whenever I met him, I defied him to do it; and he sloped off crestfallen, I can tell you. 'What, God does not exist! cried Abbe Mouret, roused from his silence. 'Oh! just as you please, mockingly replied Jeanbernat.
Having drunk a last glassful of the weak wine, the Brother threw himself back in his chair to digest his meal. 'Well now, finally asked the old servant, 'what did you see at the Paradou? Tell us, at any rate. Abbe Mouret smiled and related in a few words how strangely Jeanbernat had received him.
And you rubbed all your philters into his body, and breathed into his mouth the lasciviousness of a dog. You turned him into a brute-beast, Satan. 'He's idiotic, said Jeanbernat, resting his stick on his shoulder. 'He quite bores me. The Brother, however, growing bolder, thrust his fists under the old man's nose.
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