nt of cymbals and of trumpets
made from the horns of the wild bull.

Immediately they decided on their plan. And one night, by the light of
the moon, they took the road to the cemetery, stealing in like thieves,
in the shadows of the houses. The shutters were fastened, and quiet
reigned around every dwelling-place; not a dog barked.

Gorju accompanied them. They set to work. All that could be heard was
the noise of stones knocking against the spade as it dug through the
soil.

The vicinity of the dead was disagreeable to them. The church clock
struck with a rattling sound, and the rosework on its tympanum looked
like an eye espying a sacrilege. At last they carried off the bowl.

They came next morning to the cemetery to see the traces of the
operation.

The abbe, who was taking the air at his door, begged of them to do him
the honour of a visit, and, having introduced them into his
breakfast-parlour, he gazed at them in a singular fashion.

In the middle of the sideboard, between the plates, was a soup-tureen
decorated with yellow bouquets.

Pecuchet praised it, at a loss for something to say.

"It is old Rouen," returned the cure; "an heirloom. Amateurs set a high
value on it--M. Marescot especially." As for him, thank God, he had no
love of curiosities; and, as they appeared not to understand, he
declared that he had seen them himself stealing the baptismal font.

The two archaeologists were quite abashed. The article in question was
not in actual use.

No matter! they should give it back.

No doubt! But, at least, let them be permitted to get a painter to make
a drawing of it.

"Be it so, gentlemen."

"Between ourselves, is it not?" said Bouvard, "under the seal of
confession."

The ecclesiastic, smiling, reassured them with a gesture.

It was not he whom they feared, but rather Larsoneur. When he would be
passing through Chavignolles, he would feel a hankering after the bowl;
and his chatterings might reach the ears of the Government. Out of
prudence they kept it hidden in the bakehouse, then in the arbour, in
the trunk, in a cupboard. Gorju was tired of dragging it about.

The possession of such a rare piece of furniture bound them the closer
to the Celticism of Normandy.

Its sources were Egyptian. Seez, in the department of the Orne, is
sometimes written Sais, like the city of the Delta. The Gauls swore by
the bull, an idea derived from the bull Apis. The Latin name of
Bellocastes, which w