soul--a host of souls. Because the sun has shown himself, because we
have felt a gleam and a similitude of comfort, suffering exists no
longer, either of the past or the terrible future. "We're all right
now." There is no more to say.

Biquet establishes himself at the table, like a gentleman, to write
a reply. Carefully he lays abroad his pen ink, and paper, and
examines each, then smilingly traces the strictly regular lines of
his big handwriting across the meager page.

"You'd laugh," he says, "if you knew what I've written to the old
woman." He reads his letter again, fondles it, and smiles to
himself.

______

[note 1:] Pity to spoil this jest by translation, but Biquet's
primary meaning was "You're cross because you've a throat like a
lime-kiln." His secondary or literal meaning is obvious.--Tr.

[note 2:] See p. 34 ante; [chapter 5, note 3] another reference to
the famous phrase. "Pourvu que les civils tiennent."--Tr.

[note 3:] Every French village has a plaque attached to the first
house on each road of approach, giving its name and the distance to
the next.--Tr.