What would you do with them, _mon Dieu ?_ What pleasure would you find in prolonging the abomination of old age for a few years more?
It's much better to die at once, while you are like that! Death is happiness!" He spoke in this fashion, not as a believer who aspires to the delicious reward of eternal life, but as a weary man who expects to fall into nihility, to enjoy the great everlasting peace of being no more.
Whilst M.Sabathier was gaily shrugging his shoulders as though he had a child to deal with, Abbe Judaine, who had at last secured his banner, came by and stopped for a moment in order that he might gently scold the Commander, with whom he also was well acquainted.
"Don't blaspheme, my dear friend," he said.

"It is an offence against God to refuse life and to treat health with contempt.

If you yourself had listened to me, you would have asked the Blessed Virgin to cure your leg before now." At this the Commander became angry.

"My leg! The Virgin can do nothing to it! I'm quite at my ease.

May death come and may it all be over forever! When the time comes to die you turn your face to the wall and you die--it's simple enough." The old priest interrupted him, however.