PREFACE AFTER THE WAR When the War broke out this book was already printed and ready to appear, so I have left it untouched. The grandchildren of Colas Breugnon have just emerged as heroes and victims of a bloody epic, only to show an unquenchable flame to the world. Let me hope that the people of Europe, full of courage in spite of their sufferings, may find some solace in these reflections of “a little lamb caught between the wolf and the shepherd.” R. R. November, 1918. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE FOREWORD TO THE READER v I THE LARK OF CANDLEMAS-DAY 3 II THE SIEGE; OR, THE LAMB, THE SHEPHERD, AND THE WOLF 21 III THE VICAR OF BRÈVES 50 IV THE IDLER 75 V BELETTE 103 VI BIRDS OF PASSAGE; OR, THE SERENADE AT ASNOIS 136 VII THE PLAGUE 152 VIII MY OLD WOMAN’S DEATH 169 IX THE FIRE 181 X THE RIOT 200 XI A PRACTICAL JOKE 227 XII OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSES 245 XIII PLUTARCH’S LIVES 262 XIV HEALTH TO THE KING! 278 COLAS BREUGNON COLAS BREUGNON I THE LARK OF CANDLEMAS-DAY Thanks be to St. Martin, business is bad, so there is no use in breaking one’s back; and Lord knows I have worked hard enough in my time to take a little rest and comfort here at my table, with a bottle of wine on my right hand, the ink-well on the left, and a new quire of paper before me.