"I warn you, the old man grunts like a pig, but he will not answer your questions except by signs."
"But he can speak to his animals?"
"Yes, to them only."
The oblate opened a small door, and the lay brother, all bent, lifted his head with difficulty.
"Good-day, brother," said M. Bruno; "here is a gentleman who would like to see your pupils."
There was a grunt of joy on the lips of the old man. He smiled and invited them by a sign to follow him.
He introduced them into a shed, and Durtal recoiled, deafened by horrible cries, suffocated by the pestilential heat of the liquid manure. All the pigs jumped up behind their barrier, and howled with joy at the sight of the brother.
"Peace, peace," said the old man, in a gentle voice; and lifting an arm over the paling, he caressed the snouts which, on smelling him, were almost suffocated by grunting.
He drew Durtal aside by the arm, and making him lean over the trellis work, showed him an enormous sow with a snub nose, of English breed, a monstrous animal surrounded by a company of sucking pigs which rushed, as if mad, at her teats.
"Yes, my beauty; go, my beauty," murmured the old man, stroking her bristles with his hand.