The cow-houses and stables were on the right hand. But in order to reach
them one had to cross the great yard, whence the entire estate could
be seen. And here there was a halt, a sudden stopping inspired by
admiration, so grandly did the work accomplished show forth under the
sun. They had known that land dry and sterile, covered with mere
scrub; they beheld it now one sea of waving corn, of crops whose growth
increased at each successive season. Up yonder, on the old marshy
plateau, the fertility was such, thanks to the humus amassed during long
centuries, that Mathieu did not even manure the ground as yet. Then,
to right and to left, the former sandy slopes spread out all greenery,
fertilized by the springs which ever brought them increase of
fruitfulness. And the very woods afar off, skilfully arranged, aired by
broad clearings, seemed to possess more sap, as if all the surrounding
growth of life had instilled additional vigor into them. With this
vigor, this power, indeed, the whole domain was instinct; it was
creation, man's labor fertilizing sterile soil, and drawing from it
a wealth of nourishment for expanding humanity, the conqueror of the
world.

There was a long spell of silence. At last Seguin, in his dry shrill
voice, with a tinge of bitterness born of his own ruin, remarked: "You
have done a good stroke of business. I should never have believed it
possible."

Then they walked on again. But in the sheds, the cow-houses, the
sheep-cotes, and all round, the sensation of strength and power yet
increased. Creation was there continuing; the cattle, the sheep, the
fowls, the rabbits, all that dwelt and swarmed there were incessantly
increasing and multiplying. Each year the ark became too small, and
fresh pens and fresh buildings were required. Life increased life; on
all sides there were fresh broods, fresh flocks, fresh herds; all the
conquering wealth of inexhaustible fruitfulness.

When they reached the stables Seguin greatly admired the big draught
horses, and praised them with the expressions of a connoisseur. Then
he returned to the subject of breeding, and cited some extraordinary
results that one of his friends obtained by certain crosses. So far as
the animal kingdom was concerned his ideas were sound enough, but when
he came to the consideration of human kind he was as erratic as ever. As
they walked back from the stables he began to descant on the population
question, denouncing the century, a