Volume VIII Part 7 (1/2)
Out on the deep water, the limitless water, darker than the sky, stars seeht haze, sreen, too Most of the onward
These were the lights of the shi+ps at anchor or s
Just at this moment the e, divine pharos lighted up in the heavens to guide the countless fleet of stars in the sky Pierrealoud: ”Look at that! And we let our bile rise for two-pence!”
On a sudden, close to him, in the wide, dark ditch between the two piers, a shadow stole up, a large shadow of fantastic shape Leaning over the granite parapet, he saw that a fishi+ng-boat had glided in, without the sound of a voice or the splash of a ripple, or the plunge of an oar, softly borne in by its broad, tawny sail spread to the breeze froht to himself: ”If one could but live on board that boat, what peace it would be--perhaps!”
And then a few steps further again, he saw aat the very end of the breakwater
A dreae--a happy or a desperate man? Who was it? He went forward, curious to see the face of this lonely individual, and he recognized his brother
”What, is it you, Jean?”
”Pierre! You? What has brought you here?”
”I caan to laugh
”I too came out for fresh air” And Pierre sat down by his brother's side
”Lovely--isn't it?”
”Oh, yes, lovely”
He understood fro He went on:
”For my part, whenever I come here I am seized with a wild desire to be off with all those boats, to the north or the south Only to think that all those little sparks out there have just coreat flowers and beautiful olive or copper colored girls, the lands of hus, froer believe in the White Cat or the Sleeping Beauty It would be awfully jolly to be able to treat one's self to an excursion out there; but, then, it would cost a great deal ofthat his brother had thatfor his daily bread, free, unfettered, happy, and light-hearted, he o whither he listed, to find the fair-haired Swedes or the brown damsels of Havana And then one of those involuntary flashes which were common with him, so sudden and swift that he could neither anticipate them, nor stop them, nor qualify them, communicated, as it seemed to him, froh his brain
”Bah! He is too great a si up now ”I will leave you to drearasped his brother's hand and added in a heavy tone:
”Well, lad to have co to tell you how pleased I aratulate you, and how much I care for you”
Jean, tender and soft-hearted, was deeply touched
”Thank you, ood brother--thank you!” he stammered
And Pierre turned aith his slow step, his stick under his arain, he oncedisappointed of his walk and deprived of the company of the sea by his brother's presence He had an inspiration ”I will go and take a glass of liqueur with old Marowsko,” and he went off toward the quarter of the town known as Ingouville
He had known old Marowsko--_le pere Marowsko_, he called hiee, it was said, who had gone through terrible things out there, and who had coist in France after passing a fresh exa was known of his early life, and all sorts of legends had been current a his neighbors This reputation as a terrible conspirator, a nihilist, a regicide, a patriot ready for anything and everything, who had escaped death by a ination; he hadever extracted fro to the young doctor that this worthy had coe custo practitioner would secure hi medicines to the small tradesmen and workmen in his part of the town
Pierre often went to see him and chat with him for an hour after dinner, for he liked Marowsko's cal spells of silence