scamp, Germain, with a nurse carrying a child dressed so exactly like the one we had that I was startled.  They had journeyed there, like ourselves, in one of the count’s carriages.  A suspicion crossed my mind.  How could I be sure that Claudine had not invented the second story to pacify me?  She was certainly capable of it.  I was enraged.  I had consented to the one wickedness, but not to the other.  I resolved not to lose sight of the little bastard, swearing that they shouldn’t change it; so I kept him all the evening on my knees, and to be all the more sure, I tied my handkerchief about his waist.  Ah! the plan had been well laid.  After supper, some one spoke of retiring, and then it turned out that there were only two double-bedded rooms in the house.  It seemed as though it had been built expressly for the scheme.  The innkeeper said that the two nurses might sleep in one room, and Germain and myself in the other.  Do you understand, sir?  Add to this, that during the evening I had surprised looks of intelligence passing between my wife and that rascally servant, and you can imagine how furious I was.  It was conscience that spoke; and I was trying to silence it.  I knew very well that I was doing wrong; and I almost wished myself dead.  Why is it that women can turn an honest man’s conscience about like a weather-cock with their wheedling?”

M. Daburon’s only reply was a heavy blow of his fist on the table.

Lerouge proceeded more quickly.

“As for me, I upset that arrangement, pretending to be too jealous to leave my wife a minute.  They were obliged to give way to me.  The other nurse went up to bed first.  Claudine and I followed soon afterwards.  My wife undressed and got into bed with our son and the little bastard.  I did not undress.  Under the pretext that I should be in the way of the children, I installed myself in a chair near the bed, determined not to shut my eyes, and to keep close watch.  I put out the candle, in order to let the women sleep, though I could not think of doing so myself; and I thought of my father, and of what he would say, if he ever heard of my behaviour.  Towards midnight, I heard Claudine moving.  I held my breath.  She was getting out of bed.  Was she going to change the children?  Now, I knew that she was not; then, I felt sure that she was.  I was beside myself, and seizing her by the arm, I commenced to beat her roughly, giving free vent to all that I had on my heart.  I spoke in a loud voice, the same as when I am on board ship in a storm; I swore like a fiend, I raised a frightful disturbance.  The other nurse cried out as though she were being murdered.  At this uproar, Germain rushed in with a lighted candle.  The sight of him finished me.  Not knowing what I was doing, I drew from my pocket a long Spanish knife, which I always carried, and seizing the cursed bastard, I thrust the blade through his arm, crying, ’This way, at least, he can’t be changed without my knowing it; he is marked for life!’”