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constantly laying to get me out of the place；〃 replied the abbe。 〃I am
even doubtful； between ourselves； as to whether they will not shoot
me。〃
〃Why do you stay？〃 said Blondet。
〃We can't desert God's cause any more than that of an emperor；〃
replied the priest； with a simplicity that affected Blondet。 He took
the abbe's hand and shook it cordially。
〃You see how it is； therefore； that I know very little of the plots
that are going on；〃 continued the abbe。 〃Still； I know enough to feel
sure that the general is under what in Artois and in Belgium is called
an 'evil grudge。'〃
A few words are here necessary about the curate of Blangy。
This priest； the fourth son of a worthy middle…class family of Autun；
was an intelligent man carrying his head high in his collar。 Small and
slight； he redeemed his rather puny appearance by the precise and
carefully dressed air that belongs to Burgundians。 He accepted the
second…rate post of Blangy out of pure devotion； for his religious
convictions were joined to political opinions that were equally
strong。 There was something of the priest of the olden time about him；
he held to the Church and to the clergy passionately； saw the bearings
of things； and no selfishness marred his one ambition； which was TO
SERVE。 That was his motto；to serve the Church and the monarchy
wherever it was most threatened； to serve in the lowest rank like a
soldier who feels that he is destined； sooner or later； to attain
command through courage and the resolve to do his duty。 He made no
compromises with his vows of chastity； and poverty； and obedience； he
fulfilled them； as he did the other duties of his position； with that
simplicity and cheerful good…humor which are the sure indications of
an honest heart； constrained to do right by natural impulses as much
as by the power and consistency of religious convictions。
The priest had seen at first sight Blondet's attachment to the
countess； he saw that between a Troisville and a monarchical
journalist he could safely show himself to be a man of broad
intelligence； because his calling was certain to be respected。 He
usually came to the chateau very evening to make the fourth at a game
of whist。 The journalist； able to recognize the abbe's real merits；
showed him so much deference that the pair grew into sympathy with
each other； as usually happens when men of intelligence meet their
equals； or； if you prefer it； the ears that are able to hear them。
Swords are fond of their scabbards。
〃But to what do you attribute this state of things； Monsieur l'abbe；
you who are able； through your disinterestedness； to look over the
heads of things？〃
〃I shall not talk platitudes after such a flattering speech as that；〃
said the abbe； smiling。 〃What is going on in this valley is spreading
more or less throughout France； it is the outcome of the hopes which
the upheaval of 1789 caused to infiltrate； if I may use that
expression； the minds of the peasantry； the sons of the soil。 The
Revolution affected certain localities more than others。 This side of
Burgundy； nearest to Paris； is one of those places where the
revolutionary ideas spread like the overrunning of the Franks by the
Gauls。 Historically； the peasants are still on the morrow of the
Jacquerie； that defeat is burnt in upon their brain。 They have long
forgotten the facts which have now passed into the condition of an
instinctive idea。 That idea is bred in the peasant blood； just as the
idea of superiority was once bred in noble blood。 The revolution of
1789 was the retaliation of the vanquished。 The peasants then set foot
in possession of the soil which the feudal law had denied them for
over twelve hundred years。 Hence their desire for land； which they now
cut up among themselves until actually they divide a furrow into two
parts； which； by the bye； often hinders or prevents the collection of
taxes； for the value of such fractions of property is not sufficient
to pay the legal costs of recovering them。〃
〃Very true； for the obstinacy of the small ownerstheir
aggressiveness； if you chooseon this point is so great that in at
least one thousand cantons of the three thousand of French territory；
it is impossible for a rich man to buy an inch of land from a
peasant；〃 said Blondet； interrupting the abbe。 〃The peasants who are
willing to divide up their scraps of land among themselves would not
sell a fraction on any condition or at any price to the middle
classes。 The more money the rich man offers； the more the vague
uneasiness of the peasant increases。 Legal dispossession alone is able
to bring the landed property of the peasant into the market。 Many
persons have noticed this fact without being able to find a reason for
it。〃
〃This is the reason；〃 said the abbe； rightly believing that a pause
with Blondet was equivalent to a question： 〃twelve centuries have done
nothing for a caste whom the historic spectacle of civilization has
never yet diverted from its one predominating thought；a caste which
still wears proudly the broad…brimmed hat of its masters； ever since
an abandoned fashion placed it upon their heads。 That all…pervading
thought； the roots of which are in the bowels of the people； and which
attached them so vehemently to Napoleon （who was personally less to
them than he thought he was） and which explains the miracle of his
return in 1815；that desire for land is the sole motive power of the
peasant's being。 In the eyes of the masses Napoleon； ever one with
them through his million of soldiers； is still the king born of the
Revolution； the man who gave them possession of the soil and sold to
them the national domains。 His anointing was saturated with that
idea。〃
〃An idea to which 1814 dealt a blow； an idea which monarchy should
hold sacred；〃 said Blondet； quickly； 〃for the people may some day find
on the steps of the throne a prince whose father bequeathed to him the
head of Louis XVI。 as an heirloom。〃
〃Here is madame； don't say any more；〃 said the abbe； in a low voice。
〃Fourchon has frightened her； and it is very desirable to keep her
here in the interests of religion and of the throne； and； indeed； in
those of the people themselves。〃
Michaud； the bailiff of Les Aigues； had come to the chateau in
consequence of the assault on Vatel's eyes。 But before we relate the
consultation which then and there took place； the chain of events
requires a succinct account of the circumstances under which the
general purchased Les Aigues； the serious causes which led to the
appointment of Sibilet as steward of that magnificent property； and
the reasons why Michaud was made bailiff； with all the other
antecedents to which were due the tension of the minds of all； and the
fears expressed by Sibilet。
This rapid summary will have the merit of introducing some of the
principal actors in this drama； and of exhibiting their individual
interests； we shall thus be enabled to show the da