numbers, and carried them back themselves in
a cart, then had joined the fragments together with cement, placing them
one above the other in a mass; and in the middle of the grass arose a
rock resembling a gigantic potato.

Something further was needed to complete the harmony. They pulled down
the largest linden tree they had (however, it was three quarters dead),
and laid it down the entire length of the garden, in such a way that one
would imagine it had been carried thither by a torrent or levelled to
the ground by a thunderstorm.

The task finished, Bouvard, who was on the steps, cried from a distance:

"Here! you can see best!"--"See best!" was repeated in the air.

Pecuchet answered:

"I am going there!"--"Going there!"

"Hold on! 'Tis an echo!"--"Echo!"

The linden tree had hitherto prevented it from being produced, and it
was assisted by the pagoda, as it faced the barn, whose gables rose
above the row of trees.

In order to try the effect of the echo, they amused themselves by giving
vent to comical phrases: Bouvard yelled out language of a blackguard
description.

He had been several times at Falaise, under the pretence of going there
to receive money, and he always came back with little parcels, which he
locked up in the chest of drawers. Pecuchet started one morning to
repair to Bretteville, and returned very late with a basket, which he
hid under his bed. Next day, when he awoke, Bouvard was surprised. The
first two yew trees of the principal walk, which the day before were
still spherical, had the appearance of peacocks, and a horn with two
porcelain knobs represented the beak and the eyes. Pecuchet had risen at
dawn, and trembling lest he should be discovered, he had cut the two
trees according to the measurement given in the written instructions
sent him by Dumouchel.

For six months the others behind the two above mentioned assumed the
forms of pyramids, cubes, cylinders, stags, or armchairs; but there was
nothing equal to the peacocks. Bouvard acknowledged it with many
eulogies.

Under pretext of having forgotten his spade, he drew his comrade into
the labyrinth, for he had profited by Pecuchet's absence to do, himself
too, something sublime.

The gate leading into the fields was covered over with a coating of
plaster, under which were ranged in beautiful order five or six bowls of
pipes, representing Abd-el-Kader, negroes, naked women, horses' feet,
and death's-heads.

"Do you under