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brothers also slept； curled up in the hay like animals。 Neither father
nor mother paid any heed to this propinquity。
The iron age and the age of gold are more alike than we think for。 In
the one nothing aroused vigilance； in the other； everything rouses it；
the result to society is； perhaps； very much the same。 The presence of
old Mother Tonsard； which was more a necessity than a precaution； was
simply one immorality the more。 And thus it was that the Abbe
Brossette； after studying the morals of his parishioners； made this
pregnant remark to his bishop：
〃Monseigneur； when I observe the stress that the peasantry lay on
their poverty； I realize how they fear to lose that excuse for their
immorality。〃
Though everybody knew that the family had no principles and no
scruples； nothing was ever said against the morals of the Grand…I…
Vert。 At the beginning of this book it is necessary to explain； once
for all； to persons accustomed to the decencies of middle…class life；
that the peasants have no decency in their domestic habits and
customs。 They make no appeal to morality when their daughters are
seduced； unless the seducer is rich and timid。 Children； until the
State takes possession of them； are used either as capital or as
instruments of convenience。 Self…interest has become； specially since
1789； the sole motive of the masses； they never ask if an action is
legal or immoral； but only if it is profitable。 Morality； which is not
to be confounded with religion； begins only at a certain competence；
just as one sees； in a higher sphere； how delicacy blossoms in the
soul when fortune decorates the furniture。 A positively moral and
upright man is rare among the peasantry。 Do you ask why？ Among the
many reasons that may be given for this state of things； the principal
one is this： Through the nature of their social functions； the
peasants live a purely material life which approximates to that of
savages； and their constant union with nature tends to foster it。 When
toil exhausts the body it takes from the mind its purifying action；
especially among the ignorant。 The Abbe Brossette was right in saying
that the state policy of the peasant is his poverty。
Meddling in everybody's interests； Tonsard heard everybody's
complaints； and often instigated frauds to benefit the needy。 His
wife； a kindly appearing woman； had a good word for evil…doers； and
never withheld either approval or personal help from her customers in
anything they undertook against the rich。 This inn； a nest of vipers；
brisk and venomous； seething and active； was a hot…bed for the hatred
of the peasants and the workingmen against the masters and the
wealthy。
The prosperous life of the Tonsards was； therefore； an evil example。
Others asked themselves why they should not take their wood； as the
Tonsards did； from the forest； why not pasture their cows and have
game to eat and to sell as well as they； why not harvest without
sowing the grapes and the grain。 Accordingly； the pilfering thefts
which thin the woods and tithe the ploughed lands and meadows and
vineyards became habitual in this valley； and soon existed as a right
throughout the districts of Blangy； Conches； and Cerneux； all adjacent
to the domain of Les Aigues。 This sore； for certain reasons which will
be given in due time； did far greater injury to Les Aigues than to the
estates of Ronquerolles or Soulanges。 You must not； however； fancy
that Tonsard； his wife and children； and his old mother ever
deliberately said to themselves； 〃We will live by theft； and commit it
as cleverly as we can。〃 Such habits grow slowly。 To the dried sticks
they added； in the first instance； a single bit of good wood； then；
emboldened by habit and a carefully prepared immunity （necessary to
plans which this history will unfold）； they ended at last in cutting
〃their wood；〃 and stealing almost their entire livelihood。 Pasturage
for the cows and the abuses of gleaning were established as customs
little by little。 When the Tonsards and the do…nothings of the valley
had tasted the sweets of these four rights （thus captured by rural
paupers； and amounting to actual robbery） we can easily imagine they
would never give them up unless compelled by a power greater than
their own audacity。
At the time when this history begins Tonsard； then about fifty years
of age； tall and strong； rather stout than thin； with curly black
hair； skin highly colored and marbled like a brick with purple
blotches； yellow whites to the eyes； large ears with broad flaps； a
muscular frame； encased； however； in flabby flesh； a retreating
forehead； and a hanging lip；Tonsard； such as you see him； hid his
real character under an external stupidity； lightened at times by a
show of experience； which seemed all the more intelligent because he
had acquired in the company of his father…in…law a sort of bantering
talk； much affected by old Fourchon and Vermichel。 His nose； flattened
at the end as if the finger of God intended to mark him； gave him a
voice which came from his palate； like that of all persons disfigured
by a disease which thickens the nasal passages； through which the air
then passes with difficulty。 His upper teeth overlapped each other；
and this defect （which Lavater calls terrible） was all the more
apparent because they were as white as those of a dog。 But for a
certain lawless and slothful good humor； and the free…and…easy ways of
a rustic tippler； the man would have alarmed the least observing of
spectators。
If the portraits of Tonsard； his inn； and his father…in…law take a
prominent place in this history； it is because that place belongs to
him and to the inn and to the family。 In the first place； their
existence； so minutely described； is the type of a hundred other
households in the valley of Les Aigues。 Secondly； Tonsard； without
being other than the instrument of deep and active hatreds； had an
immense influence on the struggle that was about to take place； being
the friend and counsellor of all the complainants of the lower
classes。 His inn； as we shall presently see； was the rendezvous for
the aggressors； in fact； he became their chief； partly on account of
the fear he inspired throughout the valleyless； however； by his
actual deeds than by those that were constantly expected of him。 The
threat of this man was as much dreaded as the thing threatened； so
that he never had occasion to execute it。
Every revolt； open or concealed； has its banner。 The banner of the
marauders； the drunkards； the idlers； the sluggards of the valley des
Aigues was the terrible tavern of the Grand…I…Vert。 Its frequenters
found amusement there；as rare and much…desired a thing in the
country as in a city。 Moreover； there was no other inn along the
country…road for over twelve miles； a distance which conveyances （even
when laden） could easily do in three hours； so that those who went
from Conches to Ville…aux…Fayes always stopped at the Grand…I…V