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teacher he became a postman。 In this capacity； which serves as a
refuge to many an old soldier； Pere Fourchon was daily reprimanded。
Sometimes he forgot the letters in a tavern； at other times he kept
them in his pocket。 When he was drunk he left those for one village in
another village； when he was sober he read them。 Consequently； he was
soon dismissed。 No longer able to serve the State； Pere Fourchon ended
by becoming a manufacturer。 In the country a poor man can always get
something to do； and make at least a pretence of gaining an honest
livelihood。 At sixty…eight years of age the old man started his rope…
walk； a manufactory which requires the very smallest capital。 The
workshop is； as we have seen； any convenient wall； the machinery costs
about ten francs。 The apprentice slept； like his master； in a hay…
loft； and lived on whatever he could pick up。 The rapacity of the law
in the matter of doors and windows expires 〃sub dio。〃 The tow to make
the first rope can be borrowed。 But the principal revenue of Pere
Fourchon and his satellite Mouche； the natural son of one of his
natural daughters； came from the otters； and then there were
breakfasts and dinners given them by peasants who could neither read
nor write； and were glad to use the old fellow's talents when they had
a bill to make out； or a letter to dispatch。 Besides all this； he knew
how to play the clarionet； and he went about with his friend
Vermichel； the miller of Soulanges； to village weddings and the grand
balls given at the Tivoli of Soulanges。
Vermichel's name was Michel Vert； but the transposition was so
generally used that Brunet； the clerk of the municipal court of
Soulanges； was in the habit of writing Michel…Jean…Jerome Vert； called
Vermichel； practitioner。 Vermichel； a famous violin in the Burgundian
regiment of former days； had procured for Pere Fourchon； in
recognition of certain services； a situation as practitioner； which in
remote country…places usually devolves on those who are able to sign
their name。 Pere Fourchon therefore added to his other avocations that
of witness； or practitioner of legal papers； whenever the Sieur Brunet
came to draw them in the districts of Cerneux； Conches； and Blangy。
Vermichel and Fourchon； allied by a friendship of twenty years'
tippling； might really be considered a business firm。
Mouche and Fourchon； bound together by vice as Mentor and Telemachus
by virtue； travelled like the latter； in search of their father；
〃panis angelorum；〃the only Latin words which the old fellow's memory
had retained。 They went about scraping up the pickings of the Grand…I…
Vert； and those of the adjacent chateaux； for between them； in their
busiest and most prosperous years； they had never contrived to make as
much as three hundred and sixty fathoms of rope。 In the first place；
no dealer within a radius of fifty miles would have trusted his tow to
either Mouche or Fourchon。 The old man； surpassing the miracles of
modern chemistry； knew too well how to resolve the tow into the all…
benignant juice of the grape。 Moreover； his triple functions of public
writer for three townships； legal practitioner for one； and clarionet…
player at large； hindered； so he said； the development of his
business。
Thus it happened that Tonsard was disappointed from the start in the
hope he had indulged of increasing his comfort by an increase of
property in marriage。 The idle son…in…law had chanced； by a very
common accident； on an idler father…in…law。 Matters went all the worse
because Tonsard's wife； gifted with a sort of rustic beauty； being
tall and well…made； was not fond of work in the open air。 Tonsard
blamed his wife for her father's short…comings； and ill…treated her；
with the customary revenge of the common people； whose minds take in
only an effect and rarely look back to causes。
Finding her fetters heavy； the woman lightened them。 She used
Tonsard's vices to get the better of him。 Loving comfort and good
eating herself； she encouraged his idleness and gluttony。 In the first
place； she managed to procure the good…will of the servants of the
chateau； and Tonsard； in view of the results； made no complaint as to
the means。 He cared very little what his wife did； so long as she did
all he wanted of her。 That is the secret agreement of many a
household。 Madame Tonsard established the wine…shop of the Grand…I…
Vert； her first customers being the servants of Les Aigues and the
keepers and huntsmen。
Gaubertin； formerly steward to Mademoiselle Laguerre； one of La
Tonsard's chief patrons； gave her several puncheons of excellent wine
to attract custom。 The effect of these gifts （continued as long as
Gaubertin remained a bachelor） and the fame of her rather lawless
beauty commended this beauty to the Don Juans of the valley； and
filled the wine…shop of the Grand…I…Vert。 Being a lover of good
eating； La Tonsard was naturally an excellent cook； and though her
talents were only exercised on the common dishes of the country；
jugged hare； game sauce； stewed fish and omelets； she was considered
in all the country round to be an admirable cook of the sort of food
which is eaten at a counter and spiced in a way to excite a desire for
drink。 By the end of two years； she had managed to rule Tonsard； and
turn him to evil courses； which； indeed； he asked no better than to
indulge in。
The rascal was continually poaching； and with nothing to fear from it。
The intimacies of his wife with Gaubertin and the keepers and the
rural authorities； together with the laxity of the times； secured him
impunity。 As soon as his children were large enough he made them
serviceable to his comfort； caring no more for their morality than for
that of his wife。 He had two sons and two daughters。 Tonsard； who
lived； as did his wife； from hand to mouth； might have come to an end
of this easy life if he had not maintained a sort of martial law over
his family； which compelled them to work for the preservation of it。
When he had brought up his children； at the cost of those from whom
his wife was able to extort gifts； the following charter and budget
were the law at the Grand…I…Vert。
Tonsard's old mother and his two daughters； Catherine and Marie； went
into the woods at certain seasons twice a…day； and came back laden
with fagots which overhung the crutch of their poles at least two feet
beyond their heads。 Though dried sticks were placed on the outside of
the heap； the inside was made of live wood cut from young trees。 In
plain words； Tonsard helped himself to his winter's fuel in the woods
of Les Aigues。 Besides this； father and sons were constantly poaching。
From September to March； hares； rabbits； partridges； deer； in short；
all the game that was not eaten at the chateau； was sold at Blangy and
at Soulanges； where Tonsard's two daughters peddled milk in the early
mornings；coming back with the news of the day； in return for the
gossip they carried about Les Aigues；