"And what of them?"
"What of them? why they teach men their duty."
"Their duty in what?" continued the peasant, with his pinching logic. "Is it the duty of a father, of a son, of a soldier, of a baker?"
"Not at all; the duty of a citizen."
"Citizen? I don't understand, sir," said the peasant.
"Well, your political duties, if you like it better."
"I am still none the wiser. And so this fine gentleman, with his yellow spectacles and bald head, is not going to tell us anything about crops, vineyards, planting, or sowing?"
"No; but he will teach you your duty as a man, as a Frenchman, a citizen—a member of the great human family; he will teach you your rights; what you can and should demand of your government under the articles 199, 305, 1202, 9999 of the charter—the last charter."
"Sir, I am ashamed to have troubled you; I thank you much for your explanation; I wish you a very good morning; for mathematics you see, sir, do send me to sleep, and our curé will tell me all about it on Sunday. I shall go back to the forest, and finish my job of yesterday."