We renounce the attempt to describe the delight of the two lovers when they left La Force; of the evening they passed in the little chamber of Rigolette, which Germain left at eleven o'clock for a modest furnished apartment. Let us sum up in a few words the practical or theoretical ideas we have endeavored to place in relief in this episode of a prison life. We shall esteem ourselves very happy if we have shown the insufficiency, the impotency, and the danger of imprisonment in common. The disproportion which exists between the appreciation and punishment of certain crimes, and those of certain other offenses. And, finally, the material impossibility for the poorer classes to enjoy the benefits of the civil laws. CHAPTER XII. PUNISHMENT. We will conduct the reader again to the office of the notary, Jacques Ferrand. Thanks to the habitual loquacity of the clerks, almost constantly occupied with the increasing caprices of their patron, we can learn the events that occurred since the disappearance of Cecily. "A hundred to ten, if the present state of his health continues, before a month the governor will be as dead as a doornail." "The fact is, that since the servant who had the air of an Alsatian has left the house, he has had nothing but skin on his bones." "And what skin!" "I'll wager he was in love with this Alsatian, for it is since her departure that he has shriveled up so!" "He in love? what nonsense! on the contrary, he sees the priests more than ever; and the parish curé, a very respectable man (one must be just), went away yesterday, saying (I overheard him) to another priest who accompanied him,' This is admirable! M. Ferrand is the personification of Charity and Generosity.'" "The curé said that? of himself? without prompting?" "Yes! I heard him." "Then, I can't understand it at all. The curé has the reputation, and deserves it, of being what is called a right good pastor." "It is true; and of him we must speak seriously and with respect; he is as good and charitable as 'Little Blue Mantle,' [Footnote: We must be allowed to mention here, with veneration, the name of that excellent man, M. Champion, with whom we have not the honor of a personal acquaintance, but of whom all the poor of Paris speak with as much respect as gratitude.] and when one says that of a man he is judged." "Ay, that is not a little to say." "No. For 'Little Blue Mantle,' as well as for the good priest, the poor have only one word, and a good word it is, from the heart." "Then I return to my idea; when the curé affirms a thing, he must be believed, as he is incapable of telling a falsehood; and yet to think as he does, that our master is charitable and generous--that sticks in my throat." "Oh! how pretty that is, Chalamel! how pretty." "Seriously, I would just as soon believe that as I would a miracle. It would not be more difficult." "M. Ferrand generous! he would skin an egg!" "And yet the forty sous for our breakfast?"