pass, and looking for a kind compassionate face, before he renewed his
request, and finally selected a man in an overcoat, whose stomach was
adorned with a gold chain. "I have been looking for work," he said, "for
the last two months and cannot find any, and I have not a half-penny in
my pocket." But the semi-gentleman replied: "You should have read the
notice which is stuck up at the beginning of the village: _Begging is
prohibited within the boundaries of this parish._ Let me tell you I am
the mayor, and if you do not get out of here pretty quickly, I shall
have you arrested."

Randel, who was getting angry, replied: "Have me arrested if you like; I
should prefer it, for at any rate I should not die of hunger." And he
went back and sat down by the side of his ditch again, and in about a
quarter of an hour two gendarmes appeared on the road. They were walking
slowly, side by side, well in sight, glittering in the sun with their
shining hats, their yellow accouterments and their metal buttons, as if
to frighten evildoers, and to put them to flight at a distance. He knew
that they were coming after him, but he did not move, for he was seized
with a sudden desire to defy them, to be arrested by them, and to have
his revenge later.

They came on without appearing to have seen him, walking with military
steps, heavily and balancing themselves as if they were doing _the
goose_ steps; and then suddenly as they passed him, they appeared to
have noticed him, and stopped and looked at him angrily and
threateningly, and the brigadier came up to him and asked: "What are you
doing here?" "I am resting," the man replied, calmly. "Where do you come
from?" "If I had to tell you all the places I have been to, it would
take me more than an hour." "Where are you going to?" "To Ville-Avary."
"Where is that?" "In La Manche." "Is that where you belong to?" "It is."