I did as he desired. He bestowed the wood over me as carefully as he could, and then led the horse out.
"Whither away?" said somebody, passing.
"To dispose of this rubbish," said he, carelessly. "Poor Pierre's chattels have been reduced to mere firewood. If a trifle can be got for them, it may buy him bread."
I thought of the two messengers to King David, whom a woman concealed in a well at Bahurim, spreading a covering over the well's mouth, and spreading ground corn thereon. I was startled when the man said,
"I have a mind to buy it of you: it will do to heat my oven."
"But this load is engaged already," said Antoine.
"Why did you not say so at first? You said you were going to see if you could get a trifle for it."
"I confess I expressed myself badly. My poor brother's sad state has bewildered me. Go you, and look in on him, and see what a pitiable object he is."
"Well, I think I will. What is the value of this load, as it stands?"
Antoine seemed so disposed to haggle for it that I confess I quaked; however, he set such a high value on it that the other demurred.