sort of belong to the family, and they will
certainly be glad to intercede for people who revere them and their
emblems."

"It would take a stunning miracle to convince Durtal," said Des Hermies.

"Bells have been known to perform them," said the astrologer. "I
remember to have read, though I forget where, that angels tolled the
knell when Saint Isidro of Madrid was dying."

"And there are many other cases," said Carhaix. "Of their own accord
the bells chimed when Saint Sigisbert chanted the De Profundis over the
corpse of the martyr Placidus, and when the body of Saint Ennemond,
Bishop of Lyons, was thrown by his murderers into a boat without oars or
sails, the bells rang out, though nobody set them in motion, as the boat
passed down the Saone."

"Do you know what I think?" asked Des Hermies, looking at Carhaix. "I
think you ought to prepare a compendium of hagiography or a really
informative work on heraldry."

"What makes you think that?"

"Well, you are, thank God, remote from this epoch and fond of things
which it knows nothing about or execrates, and a work of that kind would
take you still further away. My good friend, you are the man forever
unintelligible to the coming generations. To ring bells because you love
them, to give yourself over to the abandoned study of feudal art or
monasticism would make you complete--take you clear out of Paris, out of
the world, back into the Middle Ages."

"Alas," said Carhaix, "I am only a poor ignorant man. But the type you
speak of does exist. In Switzerland, I believe, a bell-ringer has for
years been collecting material for a heraldic memorial. I should think,"
he continued, laughing, "that his avocation would interfere with his
vocation."

"And do you think," said Gevingey bitterly, "that the profession of
astrologer is less decried, less neglected?"

"How do you like our cider?" asked the bell-ringer's wife. "Do you find
it a bit raw?"

"No, it's tart if you sip it, but sweet if you take a good mouthful,"
answered Durtal.

"Wife, serve the potatoes. Don't wait for me. I delayed so long getting
my business done that it's time for the angelus. Don't bother about me.
Go on eating. I shall catch up with you when I get back."

And as her husband lighted his lantern and left the room the woman
brought in on a plate what looked to be a cake covered with golden brown
caramel icing.

"Mashed potatoes, I thought you said!"

"_Au gratin_. Browned in the oven. Ta