On the fourth day, toward morning, he passed a small cottage surrounded by a garden; he cast a glance over the wall in the hope of discovering fruit; but what was his joy when he saw linen and clothes hanging on lines; the idea of taking possession of them and getting rid of his convict's costume, at once occurred to his mind; the thought of theft no longer frightened him; he justified it by his plight. Only a half ruined wall, four feet high, separated him from the priceless garments; for the first time, he did not stop to consider the danger. He climbed the wall, took whatever he needed, and made his escape without the slightest twinge of remorse; for what he had done seemed to him a mere trifle to what he had seen done.
Having reached a dense wood, he removed his accusing costume and donned the clothes which he had stolen. Thereupon, being a little more at ease in his mind, and thinking that he must already be very far from Toulon, he set forth again, determined to ask hospitality for the night of some peasant, and hoping that they would give him a crust of bread, which seemed to him a priceless treasure capable of restoring his strength. As he did not choose, however, to take the risk of entering a village, where he feared to meet gendarmes who were in pursuit of him, he decided to knock at the door of an isolated cabin, surrounded by dense woods.
A peasant answered his knock and asked him what he could do for him.
"A great deal," said Edouard; "I am an unfortunate man, worn out with fatigue and hunger; allow me to pass the night in your house, and you will save my life."
"It's a fact," said the peasant, scrutinizing him with attention, "you seem very tired and very sick. But who are you? For a body must know who he takes in."
"I am--I am an unfortunate deserter; I trust my secret to you; don't betray me!"
"A deserter--the devil! It isn't right to desert! But I'm not capable of betraying you; come, come in, and you can tell me why you deserted."
Edouard entered the cabin, conscious of a keen sense of delight in being once more under a roof.
"Look you," said the peasant, "I'll give you half of what I have got and that won't be very good; but you hadn't ought to be hard to suit. I'm a poor wood-cutter; I ain't rich, I live from day to day, but I am glad to share my supper and my bed with you. I've got some bread and some cheese and the remains of a bottle of wine, and we'll finish it. My bed ain't bad; it's the best thing in my house, and I'll bet you won't wake up. Come, my friend, tell me your adventures. I have been in the army myself; yes, I used to be a soldier, and I flatter myself that I didn't desert; I'd like to know what reason you had for doing such a miserable thing as that."