“Finally the christening was finished according to the rites and I saw the nurse once more take the frozen, moaning child and wrap it up in the blanket.

“The priest said to me:  ‘Do you wish to sign the register?’

“Turning to my gardener, I said:  ’Hurry up and get home quickly so that you can warm that child.’  I gave him some advice so as to ward off, if not too late, a bad attack of pneumonia.  He promised to follow my instructions and left with his sister-in-law and the nurse.  I followed the priest into the vestry, and when I had signed he demanded five francs for expenses.

“As I had already given the father ten francs, I refused to pay twice.  The priest threatened to destroy the paper and to annul the ceremony.  I, in turn, threatened him with the district attorney.  The dispute was long, and I finally paid five francs.

“As soon as I reached home I went down to Kerandec’s to find out whether everything was all right.  Neither father, nor sister-in-law, nor nurse had yet returned.  The mother, who had remained alone, was in bed, shivering with cold and starving, for she had had nothing to eat since the day before.

“‘Where the deuce can they have gone?’ I asked.  She answered without surprise or anger, ’They’re going to drink something to celebrate:  It was the custom.  Then I thought, of my ten francs which were to pay the church and would doubtless pay for the alcohol.

“I sent some broth to the mother and ordered a good fire to be built in the room.  I was uneasy and furious and promised myself to drive out these brutes, wondering with terror what was going to happen to the poor infant.

“It was already six, and they had not yet returned.  I told my servant to wait for them and I went to bed.  I soon fell asleep and slept like a top.  At daybreak I was awakened by my servant, who was bringing me my hot water.

“As soon as my eyes were open I asked:  ‘How about Kerandec?’

“The man hesitated and then stammered:  ’Oh! he came back, all right, after midnight, and so drunk that he couldn’t walk, and so were Kermagan and the nurse.  I guess they must have slept in a ditch, for the little one died and they never even noticed it.’

“I jumped up out of bed, crying: 

“‘What!  The child is dead?’

“’Yes, sir.  They brought it back to Mother Kerandec.  When she saw it she began to cry, and now they are making her drink to console her.’

“‘What’s that?  They are making her drink!’

“’Yes, sir.  I only found it out this morning.  As Kerandec had no more brandy or money, he took some wood alcohol, which monsieur gave him for the lamp, and all four of them are now drinking that.  The mother is feeling pretty sick now.’

“I had hastily put on some clothes, and seizing a stick, with the intention of applying it to the backs of these human beasts, I hastened towards the gardener’s house.