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for a plutocracy。 Is that worth while？ Do you 'think that under
money…changers and slave…traders and men who have waxed rich in
other ways by the ignoble arts of buying and selling； the lot of
the people will be any better than under their priests and nobles？
Has it ever occurred to you； Philippe； what it is that makes the
rule of the nobles so intolerable？ Acquisitiveness。 Acquisitiveness
is the curse of mankind。 And shall you expect less acquisitiveness
in men who have built themselves up by acquisitiveness？ Oh； I am
ready to admit that the present government is execrable； unjust；
tyrannical … what you will； but I beg you to look ahead； and to see
that the government for which it is aimed at exchanging it may be
infinitely worse。〃
Philippe sat thoughtful a moment。 Then he returned to the attack。
〃You do not speak of the abuses； the horrible； intolerable abuses
of power under which we labour at present。〃
〃Where there is power there will always be the abuse of it。〃
〃Not if the tenure of power is dependent upon its equitable
administration。〃
〃The tenure of power is power。 We cannot dictate to those who hold
it。〃
〃The people can … the people in its might。〃
〃Again I ask you； when you say the people do you mean the populace？
You do。 What power can the populace wield？ It can run wild。 It
can burn and slay for a time。 But enduring power it cannot wield；
because power demands qualities which the populace does not possess；
or it would not be populace。 The inevitable； tragic corollary of
civilization is populace。 For the rest； abuses can be corrected by
equity； and equity； if it is not found in the enlightened； is not
to be found at all。 M。 Necker is to set about correcting abuses；
and limiting privileges。 That is decided。 To that end the States
General are to assemble。〃
〃And a promising beginning we have made in Brittany； as Heaven hears
me！〃 cried Philippe。
〃Pooh！ That is nothing。 Naturally the nobles will not yield without
a struggle。 It is a futile and ridiculous struggle … but then。。。 it
is human nature； I suppose； to be futile and ridiculous。〃
M。 de Vilmorin became witheringly sarcastic。 〃Probably you will
also qualify the shooting of Mabey as futile and ridiculous。 I
should even be prepared to hear you argue in defence of the Marquis
de La Tour d' Azyr that his gamekeeper was merciful in shooting
Mabey； since the alternative would have been a life…sentence to
the galleys。〃
Andre…Louis drank the remainder of his chocolate； set down his cup；
and pushed back his chair； his breakfast done。
〃I confess that I have not your big charity； my dear Philippe。 I
am touched by Mabey's fate。 But； having conquered the shock of
this news to my emotions； I do not forget that； after all； Mabey
was thieving when he met his death。〃
M。 de Vilmorin heaved himself up in his indignation。
〃That is the point of view to be expected in one who is the assistant
fiscal intendant of a nobleman； and the delegate of a nobleman to
the States of Brittany。〃
〃Philippe； is that just？ You are angry with me！〃 he cried； in real
solicitude。
〃I am hurt；〃 Vilmorin admitted。 〃I am deeply hurt by your attitude。
And I am not alone in resenting your reactionary tendencies。 Do
you know that the Literary Chamber is seriously considering your
expulsion？〃
Andre…Louis shrugged。 〃That neither surprises nor troubles me。〃
M。 de Vilmorin swept on； passionately： 〃Sometimes I think that you
have no heart。 With you it is always the law； never equity。 It
occurs to me； Andre； that I was mistaken in coming to you。 You are
not likely to be of assistance to me in my interview with M。 de
Kercadiou。〃 He took up his hat； clearly with the intention of
departing。
Andre…Louis sprang up and caught him by the arm。
〃I vow；〃 said he； 〃that this is the last time ever I shall consent
to talk law or politics with you； Philippe。 I love you too well
to quarrel with you over other men's affairs。〃
〃But I make them my own；〃 Philippe insisted vehemently。
〃Of course you do； and I love you for it。 It is right that you
should。 You are to be a priest； and everybody's business is a
priest's business。 Whereas I am a lawyer … the fiscal intendant
of a nobleman； as you say … and a lawyer's business is the business
of his client。 That is the difference between us。 Nevertheless；
you are not going to shake me off。〃
〃But I tell you frankly； now that I come to think of it； that I
should prefer you did not see M。 de Kercadiou with me。 Your duty
to your client cannot be a help to me。〃
His wrath had passed； but his determination remained firm； based
upon the reason he gave。
〃Very well；〃 said Andre…Louis。 〃It shall be as you please。 But
nothing shall prevent me at least from walking with you as far as
the chateau； and waiting for you while you make your appeal to M。
de Kercadiou。〃
And so they left the house good friends； for the sweetness of M。
de Vilmorin's nature did not admit of rancour； and together they
took their way up the steep main street of Gavrillac。
CHAPTER II
THE ARISTOCRAT
The sleepy village of Gavrillac； a half…league removed from the main
road to Rennes； and therefore undisturbed by the world's traffic；
lay in a curve of the River Meu； at the foot； and straggling halfway
up the slope； of the shallow hill that was crowned by the squat manor。
By the time Gavrillac had paid tribute to its seigneur … partly in
money and partly in service … tithes to the Church； and imposts to
the King； it was hard put to it to keep body and soul together with
what remained。 Yet； hard as conditions were in Gavrillac； they were
not so hard as in many other parts of France； not half so hard； for
instance； as with the wretched feudatories of the great Lord of La
Tour d'Azyr； whose vast possessions were at one point separated from
this little village by the waters of the Meu。
The Chateau de Gavrillac owed such seigneurial airs as might be
claimed for it to its dominant position above the village rather
than to any feature of its own。 Built of granite； like all the rest
of Gavrillac； though mellowed by some three centuries of existence；
it was a squat； flat…fronted edifice of two stories； each lighted by
four windows with external wooden shutters； and flanked at either end
by two square towers or pavilions under extinguisher roofs。 Standing
well back in a garden； denuded now； but very pleasant in summer； and
immediately fronted by a fine sweep of balustraded terrace； it looked；
what indeed it was； and always had been； the residence of
unpretentious folk who found more interest in husbandry than in
adventure。
Quintin de Kercadiou； Lord of Gavrillac … Seigneur de Gavrillac was
all the vague title that he bore； as his forefathers had borne before
him； derived no man knew whence or how … confirmed the impression
that his house conveyed。 Rude as the granite itself； he had never
sought the experience of courts； had not even taken service in the
armies of his King。 He left it to his younger brother； Etienne； to
represent the family in those exalted spheres。 His own interests
from earliest years had been centred in his