Chapter 6

           FROMHISfirstglanceatMonsieurGrimal-no,fromthefirstbreaththatsniffedintheodorenvelopingGrimal-Grenouilleknewthatthismanwascapableofthrashinghimtodeathfortheleastinfraction.HislifewasworthpreciselyasmuchastheworkhecouldaccomplishandconsistedonlyofwhateverutilityGrimalascribedtoit.Andso,Grenouillecametoheel,neveroncemakinganattempttoresist.Witheachnewday,hewouldbottleupinsidehimselftheenergiesofhisdefianceandcontumacyandexpendthemsolelytosurvivetheimpendingiceageinhisticklikeway.Tough,uncomplaining,inconspicuous,hetendedthelightoflife’shopesasaverysmall,butcarefullynourishedflame.Hewasaparagonofdocility,frugality,anddiligenceinhiswork,obeyedimplicitly,andappearedsatisfiedwitheverymealoffered.Intheevening,hemeeklylethimselfbelockedupinaclosetofftoonesideofthetanneryfloor,wheretoolswerekeptandtheraw,saltedhideswerehung.Therehesleptonthehard,bareearthenfloor.Duringthedayheworkedaslongastherewaslight-eighthoursinwinter,fourteen,fifteen,sixteenhoursinsummer.Hescrapedthemeatfrombestiallystinkinghides,wateredthemdown,dehairedthem,limed,bated,andfulledthem,rubbedthemdownwithpicklingdung,choppedwood,strippedbarkfrombirchandyew,climbeddownintothetanningpitsfilledwithcausticfumes,layeredthehidesandpeltsjustasthejourneymenorderedhim,spreadthemwithsmashedgallnuts,coveredthisghastlyfuneralpyrewithyewbranchesandearth.