Chapter 10

           GraduallyRodolphe’sfearstookpossessionofher.Atfirst,lovehadintoxicatedher;andshehadthoughtofnothingbeyond.Butnowthathewasindispensabletoherlife,shefearedtoloseanythingofthis,oreventhatitshouldbedisturbed.Whenshecamebackfromhishouseshelookedallabouther,anxiouslywatchingeveryformthatpassedinthehorizon,andeveryvillagewindowfromwhichshecouldbeseen.Shelistenedforsteps,cries,thenoiseoftheploughs,andshestoppedshort,white,andtremblingmorethantheaspenleavesswayingoverhead.

           Onemorningasshewasthusreturning,shesuddenlythoughtshesawthelongbarrelofacarbinethatseemedtobeaimedather.Itstuckoutsidewaysfromtheendofasmalltubhalf-buriedinthegrassontheedgeofaditch.Emma,half-faintingwithterror,neverthelesswalkedon,andamansteppedoutofthetublikeaJack-in-the-box.Hehadgaitersbuckleduptotheknees,hiscappulleddownoverhiseyes,tremblinglips,andarednose.ItwasCaptainBinetlyinginambushforwildducks.

           "Yououghttohavecalledoutlongago!"heexclaimed;"Whenoneseesagun,oneshouldalwaysgivewarning."

           Thetax-collectorwasthustryingtohidethefrighthehadhad,foraprefectorialorderhavingprohibitedduckhuntingexceptinboats,MonsieurBinet,despitehisrespectforthelaws,wasinfringingthem,andsoheeverymomentexpectedtoseetheruralguardturnup.Butthisanxietywhettedhispleasure,and,allaloneinhistub,hecongratulatedhimselfonhisluckandonhiscuteness.