The story will be very long

　　"In your service, excellency, where everything is learned."

　　"Go on, I am curious to know two things."

　　"What are they, your excellency ?"

　　"What became of this little boy? for I think you told me itwas a boy, M. Bertuccio."

　　"No excellency, I do not recollect telling you that."

　　"I thought you did; I must have been mistaken."

　　"No, you were not, for it was in reality a little boy. Butyour excellency wished to know two things; what was thesecond?"

　　"The second was the crime of which you were accused when youasked for a confessor, and the Abbe Busoni came to visit youat your request in the prison at Nimes."

　　"The story will be very long, excellency."

　　"What matter? you know I take but little sleep, and I do notsuppose you are very much inclined for it either." Bertucciobowed, and resumed his story.

　　"Partly to drown the recollections of the past that hauntedme, partly to supply the wants of the poor widow, I eagerlyreturned to my trade of smuggler, which had become more easysince that relaxation of the laws which always follows arevolution. The southern districts were ill-watched inparticular, in consequence of the disturbances that wereperpetually breaking out in Avignon, Nimes, or Uzes. Weprofited by this respite on the part of the government tomake friends everywhere. Since my brother's assassination inthe streets of Nimes, I had never entered the town; theresult was that the inn-keeper with whom we were connected,seeing that we would no longer come to him, was forced tocome to us, and had established a branch to his inn, on theroad from Bellegarde to Beaucaire, at the sign of the Pontdu Gard. We had thus, at Aigues-Mortes, Martigues, or Bouc,a dozen places where we left our goods, and where, in caseof necessity, we concealed ourselves from the gendarmes andcustom-house officers. Smuggling is a profitable trade, whena certain degree of vigor and intelligence is employed; asfor myself, brought up in the mountains, I had a doublemotive for fearing the gendarmes and custom-house officers,as my appearance before the judges would cause an inquiry,and an inquiry always looks back into the past. And in mypast life they might find something far more grave than theselling of smuggled cigars, or barrels of brandy without apermit. So, preferring death to capture, I accomplished themost astonishing deeds, and which, more than once, showed methat the too great care we take of our bodies is the onlyobstacle to the success of those projects which requirerapid decision, and vigorous and determined execution. Inreality, when you have once devoted your life to yourenterprises, you are no longer the equal of other men, or,rather, other men are no longer your equals, and whosoeverhas taken this resolution, feels his strength and resourcesdoubled."