The company confessed that all they had heard was that their saint had been a blacksmith. “Yes, but I am going to tell you how he became a saint.” And while soaking a crisp _tortillarde_ in his glass of Tavel wine, the worthy Roussière proceeded: “Our Lord God the Father, one day in Paradise, wore a troubled air. The child Jesus inquired of him: “‘What is the matter, my Father?’ “‘I have,’ replied God, ‘a case that greatly plagues me. Hold, look down there!’ “‘Where?’ asked Jesus. “‘Down there, in the Limousin, to the right of my finger: thou seest, in that village, near the city, a smithy, a large fine smithy?’ “‘I see--I see.’ “‘Well, my son, there is a man that I should like to have saved: they call him Master Eloi. He is a reliable, good fellow, a faithful observer of my Commandments, charitable to the poor, kind-hearted to every one, of exemplary conduct, hammering away from morning to night without evil speaking or blasphemy. Yes, he seems to me worthy to become a great saint.’ “‘And what prevents it?’ asked Jesus. “‘His pride, my son. Because he is a good worker, a worker of the first order, Eloi thinks that no one on earth is above him, and presumption is perdition.’ “‘My Lord Father,’ said Jesus, ‘if you will permit me to descend to the earth I will try and convert him.’ “‘Go, my dear son.’ “And the good Jesus descended. Dressed like an apprentice, his tool-bag on his back, the divine workman alighted right in the street where Eloi dwelt. Over the blacksmith’s door was the usual signboard, and on it this inscription: “‘Eloi the blacksmith, master above all other masters, forges a shoe in two heatings.’ “The little apprentice stepped on to the threshold and taking off his hat: “‘God give you good-day, master, and to the company,’ said he; ‘have you need of any help?’ “‘Not for the moment,’ answered Eloi. “‘Farewell then, master: it will be for another time.’ “And the good Jesus continued his road. In the street he saw a group of men talking, and Jesus said in passing: “‘I should not have thought that in such a smithy, where there must be, one would think, so much doing, they would refuse me work.’ “‘Wait a bit, my lad,’ said one of the neighbours. ‘What salutation did you make to Master Eloi!’ “‘I said, as is usual, “God give you good-day, master, and to the company!’ “‘Ah, but that is not what you should have said. You should have addressed him as, “Master above all other masters.” There, look at the board!’ “‘That is true,’ said Jesus. ‘I will try again.’ And with that he returned to the smithy. “‘God give you good-day, master above all other masters. Have you no need of an apprentice?’ “‘Come in, come in,’ replied Eloi. ‘I have been thinking that we could give you work also. But listen to this once and for all: When you address me, you must say, “Master, above all other masters,” see you--this is not to boast, but men like me, who can forge a shoe in two heatings, there are not two in Limousin!’