sun-bronzed face were queerly attractive, that his
features, though rough-hewn, held a look of power,
that his brow was low and wide and convincing, but
above all his figure pleased Eusebe, so strong it was,
and of such excellent proportions. Eusebe considered
himself a fine judge, for had he not been born in the
town of Aries, and had Aries not been born in the
lap of the pagan? And had he not worshipped pagan
art at the Musee Lapidaire many a time? He had,
and so now he would think to himself:
The boy is magnificent, what a torse! It is really
remarkable how much he has changed for the better;
and already he looks quite mature". Ai! las, that he
cannot become a Greek athlete.'
One day he remarked: £We are all very ugly, we
have grown very ugly and our bodies are mean—
even here in Provence which at one time was pagan.
But you, Christophe, remind me of those who live
on in marble, of those I have seen thus at Aries.
Your features are too rough and that is a pity, but
presently your body will be like theirs, a thing of
great strength and of perfect balance. Now look at
me, Christophe, a poor dwarf with one eye, and then
think yourself lucky to possess such a carcase. Houi,
but the women will be round you like bees!' Christophe
smiled rather vaguely, knowing nothing of women.
What he liked was to wander among the vines, for
their greenness gave him an exquisite pleasure, and
he loved the contented and earthy smell which seemed
to haunt all Eusebe's vineyards. Eusebe would stoop
down and pinch the grapes, but gently as one pinches
the ear of a baby, and then he would talk to them
playfully as Christophe had heard him talk to his
sandals. Or perhaps he would want the boy to admire:
'Come and look at these bunches, are they not
beauties? Only see how they flush, only see how they
swell. Bigre! already they are heavy with juice. This
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