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excelled in such urban sarcasms。
The ancient mansions of the old town of Saumur are at the top of this
hilly street； and were formerly occupied by the nobility of the
neighborhood。 The melancholy dwelling where the events of the
following history took place is one of these mansions；venerable
relics of a century in which men and things bore the characteristics
of simplicity which French manners and customs are losing day by day。
Follow the windings of the picturesque thoroughfare； whose
irregularities awaken recollections that plunge the mind mechanically
into reverie； and you will see a somewhat dark recess； in the centre
of which is hidden the door of the house of Monsieur Grandet。 It is
impossible to understand the force of this provincial expressionthe
house of Monsieur Grandetwithout giving the biography of Monsieur
Grandet himself。
Monsieur Grandet enjoyed a reputation in Saumur whose causes and
effects can never be fully understood by those who have not； at one
time or another； lived in the provinces。 In 1789 Monsieur Grandet
still called by certain persons le Pere Grandet； though the number of
such old persons has perceptibly diminishedwas a master…cooper； able
to read； write； and cipher。 At the period when the French Republic
offered for sale the church property in the arrondissement of Saumur；
the cooper； then forty years of age； had just married the daughter of
a rich wood…merchant。 Supplied with the ready money of his own fortune
and his wife's /dot/； in all about two thousand louis…d'or； Grandet
went to the newly established 〃district；〃 where； with the help of two
hundred double louis given by his father…in…law to the surly
republican who presided over the sales of the national domain； he
obtained for a song； legally if not legitimately； one of the finest
vineyards in the arrondissement； an old abbey； and several farms。 The
inhabitants of Saumur were so little revolutionary that they thought
Pere Grandet a bold man； a republican； and a patriot with a mind open
to all the new ideas； though in point of fact it was open only to
vineyards。 He was appointed a member of the administration of Saumur；
and his pacific influence made itself felt politically and
commercially。 Politically； he protected the ci…devant nobles； and
prevented； to the extent of his power； the sale of the lands and
property of the /emigres/； commercially； he furnished the Republican
armies with two or three thousand puncheons of white wine； and took
his pay in splendid fields belonging to a community of women whose
lands had been reserved for the last lot。
Under the Consulate Grandet became mayor； governed wisely； and
harvested still better pickings。 Under the Empire he was called
Monsieur Grandet。 Napoleon； however； did not like republicans； and
superseded Monsieur Grandet （who was supposed to have worn the
Phrygian cap） by a man of his own surroundings； a future baron of the
Empire。 Monsieur Grandet quitted office without regret。 He had
constructed in the interests of the town certain fine roads which led
to his own property； his house and lands； very advantageously
assessed； paid moderate taxes； and since the registration of his
various estates； the vineyards； thanks to his constant care； had
become the 〃head of the country；〃a local term used to denote those
that produced the finest quality of wine。 He might have asked for the
cross of the Legion of honor。
This event occurred in 1806。 Monsieur Grandet was then fifty…seven
years of age； his wife thirty…six； and an only daughter； the fruit of
their legitimate love； was ten years old。 Monsieur Grandet； whom
Providence no doubt desired to compensate for the loss of his
municipal honors； inherited three fortunes in the course of this year；
that of Madame de la Gaudiniere； born de la Bertelliere； the mother
of Madame Grandet； that of old Monsieur de la Bertelliere； her
grandfather； and； lastly； that of Madame Gentillet； her grandmother on
the mother's side： three inheritances； whose amount was not known to
any one。 The avarice of the deceased persons was so keen that for a
long time they had hoarded their money for the pleasure of secretly
looking at it。 Old Monsieur de la Bertelliere called an investment an
extravagance； and thought he got better interest from the sight of his
gold than from the profits of usury。 The inhabitants of Saumur
consequently estimated his savings according to 〃the revenues of the
sun's wealth；〃 as they said。
Monsieur Grandet thus obtained that modern title of nobility which our
mania for equality can never rub out。 He became the most imposing
personage in the arrondissement。 He worked a hundred acres of
vineyard； which in fruitful years yielded seven or eight hundred
hogsheads of wine。 He owned thirteen farms； an old abbey； whose
windows and arches he had walled up for the sake of economy；a
measure which preserved them；also a hundred and twenty…seven acres
of meadow…land； where three thousand poplars； planted in 1793； grew
and flourished； and finally； the house in which he lived。 Such was his
visible estate； as to his other property； only two persons could give
even a vague guess at its value： one was Monsieur Cruchot； a notary
employed in the usurious investments of Monsieur Grandet； the other
was Monsieur des Grassins； the richest banker in Saumur； in whose
profits Grandet had a certain covenanted and secret share。
Although old Cruchot and Monsieur des Grassins were both gifted with
the deep discretion which wealth and trust beget in the provinces；
they publicly testified so much respect to Monsieur Grandet that
observers estimated the amount of his property by the obsequious
attention which they bestowed upon him。 In all Saumur there was no one
not persuaded that Monsieur Grandet had a private treasure； some
hiding…place full of louis； where he nightly took ineffable delight in
gazing upon great masses of gold。 Avaricious people gathered proof of
this when they looked at the eyes of the good man； to which the yellow
metal seemed to have conveyed its tints。 The glance of a man
accustomed to draw enormous interest from his capital acquires； like
that of the libertine； the gambler； or the sycophant； certain
indefinable habits；furtive； eager； mysterious movements； which never
escape the notice of his co…religionists。 This secret language is in a
certain way the freemasonry of the passions。 Monsieur Grandet inspired
the respectful esteem due to one who owed no man anything； who；
skilful cooper and experienced wine…grower that he was； guessed with
the precision of an astronomer whether he ought to manufacture a
thousand puncheons for his vintage； or only five hundred； who never
failed in any speculation； and always had casks for sale when casks
were worth more than the commodity that filled them； who could store
his whole vintage in his cellars and bide his time to put the
puncheons on the market at two hundred francs； when the little
proprietors had been forced to sell theirs for five louis。 His famous
vintage of 1811； judiciously stored and slowly disposed of； brought
him in more than two hundred and forty thousand francs。
Financially speaking； Monsieur Grandet was somethin