o the bed and saw
that his mother was still alive, he asked: "How is she?" just as he had
done formerly, when she had been unwell, and then he sent la Rapet away,
saying to her: "To-morrow morning at five o'clock, without fail." And
she replied: "To-morrow, at five o'clock."

She came at daybreak, and found Honore eating his soup, which he had
made himself, before going to work, and the sick-nurse asked him: "Well,
is your mother dead?" "She is rather better, on the contrary," he
replied, with a malignant look out of the corner of his eyes. And he
went out.

La Rapet was seized with anxiety, and went up to the dying woman, who
remained in the same state, lethargic and impassive, with her eyes open
and her hands clutching the counterpane. The nurse perceived that this
might go on thus for two days, four days, eight days, and her avaricious
mind was seized with fear, while she was excited to furious rage against
the cunning fellow who had tricked her, and against the woman, who would
not die.

Nevertheless, she began to work and waited with her looks fixed on the
wrinkled face of Mother Bontemps, and when Honore returned to breakfast
he seemed quite satisfied and even in a bantering humor, for he was
decidedly carrying in his wheat under very favorable circumstances.

* * * * *

La Rapet was getting exasperated; every minute passed now seemed to her
so much time and money stolen from her. She felt a mad inclination to
take this old ass, this headstrong old fool, this obstinate old wretch,
and to stop that short, rapid breath, which was robbing her of her time
and money, by squeezing her throat a little. But then, she reflected on
the danger of doing so, and other thoughts came into her head, so she
went up to the bed and said to her: "Have you ever seen the Devil?"
Mother Bontemps whispered: "No."

Then the sick-nurse began to talk and to tell her tales which were
likely to terrify her weak and dying mind. Some minutes before one died
the Devil appeared, she said, to all who were in their death throes. He
had a broom in his hand, a saucepan on his head, and he uttered loud
cries. When anybody had seen him, all was over, and that person had only
a few moments longer to live; and she enumerated all those to whom the
Devil had appeared that year: Josephine Loisel, Eulalie Ratier, Sophie
Padagnau, Seraphine Grospied.

Mother Bontemps, who was at last most disturbed in mind, moved about,