never thought him capable. It is part of the French nature to
grow enthusiastic, or angry, or fervent about some meteor of the moment.
Can it be that collective beings, nationalities, peoples, are devoid of
memory?

When Pere Grandet had shut the door he called Nanon.

"Don't let the dog loose, and don't go to bed; we have work to do
together. At eleven o'clock Cornoiller will be at the door with the
chariot from Froidfond. Listen for him and prevent his knocking; tell
him to come in softly. Police regulations don't allow nocturnal racket.
Besides, the whole neighborhood need not know that I am starting on a
journey."

So saying, Grandet returned to his private room, where Nanon heard
him moving about, rummaging, and walking to and fro, though with much
precaution, for he evidently did not wish to wake his wife and daughter,
and above all not to rouse the attention of his nephew, whom he had
begun to anathematize when he saw a thread of light under his door.
About the middle of the night Eugenie, intent on her cousin, fancied
she heard a cry like that of a dying person. It must be Charles, she
thought; he was so pale, so full of despair when she had seen him
last,--could he have killed himself? She wrapped herself quickly in a
loose garment,--a sort of pelisse with a hood,--and was about to leave
the room when a bright light coming through the chinks of her door made
her think of fire. But she recovered herself as she heard Nanon's heavy
steps and gruff voice mingling with the snorting of several horses.

"Can my father be carrying off my cousin?" she said to herself, opening
her door with great precaution lest it should creak, and yet enough to
let her see into the corridor.

Suddenly her eye encountered that of her father; and his glance, vague
and unnoticing as it was, terrified her. The goodman and Nanon were
yoked together by a stout stick, each end of which rested on their
shoulders; a stout rope was passed over it, on which was slung a small
barrel or keg like those Pere Grandet still made in his bakehouse as an
amusement for his leisure hours.

"Holy Virgin, how heavy it is!" said the voice of Nanon.

"What a pity that it is only copper sous!" answered Grandet. "Take care
you don't knock over the candlestick."

The scene was lighted by a single candle placed between two rails of the
staircase.

"Cornoiller," said Grandet to his keeper _in partibus_, "have you
brought your pistols?"

"No, monsieur.