maxims laid down by the Child’s Guide to Manners.  Groping about, I saw at the end of the barn a sort of ledge up above in the roof; no one had thought of scrambling up to it, possibly no one had felt equal to the effort.  I clambered up and ensconced myself upon it; and as I lay there at full length, I looked down at the men huddled together like sheep below.  It was a pitiful sight, yet it almost made me laugh.  A man here and there was gnawing a frozen carrot, with a kind of animal satisfaction expressed in his face; and thunderous snores came from generals who lay muffled up in ragged cloaks.  The whole barn was lighted by a blazing pine log; it might have set the place on fire, and no one would have troubled to get up and put it out.

“I lay down on my back, and, naturally, just before I dropped off, my eyes traveled to the roof above me, and then I saw that the main beam which bore the weight of the joists was being slightly shaken from east to west.  The blessed thing danced about in fine style.  ‘Gentlemen,’ said I, ’one of our friends outside has a mind to warm himself at our expense.’  A few moments more and the beam was sure to come down.  ‘Gentlemen! gentlemen!’ I shouted, ’we shall all be killed in a minute!  Look at the beam there!’ and I made such a noise that my bed-fellows awoke at last.  Well, sir, they all stared up at the beam, and then those who had been sleeping turned round and went off to sleep again, while those who were eating did not even stop to answer me.

“Seeing how things were, there was nothing for it but to get up and leave my place, and run the risk of finding it taken by somebody else, for all the lives of this heap of heroes were at stake.  So out I go.  I turn the corner of the barn and come upon a great devil of a Wurtemberger, who was tugging at the beam with a certain enthusiasm.  ‘Aho! aho!’ I shouted, trying to make him understand that he must desist from his toil. ’Gehe mir aus dem Gesicht, oder ich schlag dich todt!—­Get out of my sight, or I will kill you,’ he cried.  ’Ah! yes, just so, Que mire aous dem guesit,’ I answered; ’but that is not the point.’  I picked up his gun that he had left on the ground, and broke his back with it; then I turned in again, and went off to sleep.  Now you know the whole business.”

“But that was a case of self-defence, in which one man suffered for the good of many, so you have nothing to reproach yourself with,” said Benassis.

“The rest of them thought that it had only been my fancy; but fancy or no, a good many of them are living comfortably in fine houses to-day, without feeling their hearts oppressed by gratitude.”

“Then would you only do people a good turn in order to receive that exorbitant interest called gratitude?” said Benassis, laughing.  “That would be asking a great deal for your outlay.”