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she doubtless thought she had never seen her looking so well。
The annual pickings of Gaubertin and Mademoiselle Cochet； their wages
and perquisites； became so large that the most affectionate relative
could not possibly have been more devoted than they to their kindly
mistress。 There is really no describing how a swindler cossets his
dupe。 A mother is not so tender nor so solicitous for a beloved
daughter as the practitioner of tartuferie for his milch cow。 What
brilliant success attends the performance of Tartufe behind the closed
doors of a home！ It is worth more than friendship。 Moliere died too
soon； he would otherwise have shown us the misery of Orgon； wearied by
his family； harassed by his children； regretting the blandishments of
Tartufe； and thinking to himself； 〃Ah； those were the good times！〃
During the last eight years of her life the mistress of Les Aigues
received only thirty thousand francs of the fifty thousand really
yielded by the estate。 Gaubertin had reached the same administrative
results as his predecessor； though farm rents and territorial products
were notably increased between 1791 and 1815；not to speak of
Madame's continual purchases。 But Gaubertin's fixed idea of acquiring
Les Aigues at the old lady's death led him to depreciate the value of
the magnificent estate in the matter of its ostensible revenues。
Mademoiselle Cochet； a sharer in the scheme； was also to share the
profits。 As the ex…divinity in her declining years received an income
of twenty thousand francs from the Funds called consolidated （how
readily the tongue of politics can jest！）； and with difficulty spent
the said sum yearly； she was much surprised at the annual purchases
made by her steward to use up the accumulating revenues； remembering
how in former times she had always drawn them in advance。 The result
of having few wants in her old age seemed； to her mind； a proof of the
honesty and uprightness of Gaubertin and Mademoiselle Cochet。
〃Two pearls！〃 she said to the persons who came to see her。
Gaubertin kept his accounts with apparent honesty。 He entered all
rentals duly。 Everything that could strike the feeble mind of the late
singer； so far as arithmetic went； was clear and precise。 The steward
took his commission on all disbursements；on the costs of working the
estate； on rentals made； on suits brought； on work done； on repairs of
every kind；details which Madame never dreamed of verifying； and for
which he sometimes charged twice over by collusion with the
contractors； whose silence was bought by permission to charge the
highest prices。 These methods of dealing conciliated public opinion in
favor of Gaubertin； while Madame's praise was on every lip； for
besides the payments she disbursed for work； she gave away large sums
of money in alms。
〃May God preserve her； the dear lady！〃 was heard on all sides。
The truth was； everybody got something out of her； either indirectly
or as a downright gift。 In reprisals； as it were； of her youth the old
actress was pillaged； so discreetly pillaged； however； that those who
throve upon her kept their depredations within certain limits lest
even her eyes might be opened and she should sell Les Aigues and
return to Paris。
This system of 〃pickings〃 was； alas！ the cause of Paul…Louis Carter's
assassination； he committed the mistake of advertising the sale of his
estate and allowing it to be known that he should take away his wife；
on whom a number of the Tonsards of Lorraine were battening。 Fearing
to lose Madame des Aigues； the marauders on the estate forbore to cut
the young trees； unless pushed to extremities by finding no branches
within reach of shears fastened to long poles。 In the interests of
robbery； they did as little harm as they could； although； during the
last years of Madame's life； the habit of cutting wood became more and
more barefaced。 On certain clear nights not less than two hundred
bundles were taken。 As to the gleaning of fields and vineyards； Les
Aigues lost； as Sibilet had pointed out； not less than one quarter of
its products。
Madame des Aigues had forbidden Cochet to marry during her lifetime；
with the selfishness often shown in all countries by a mistress to a
maid； which is not more irrational than the mania for keeping
possession； until our last gasp； of property that is utterly useless
to our material comfort； at the risk of being poisoned by impatient
heirs。 Twenty days after the old lady's burial Mademoiselle Cochet
married the brigadier of the gendarmerie of Soulanges； named Soudry； a
handsome man； forty…two years of age； who； ever since 1800 （in which
year the gendarmerie was formed） had come every day to Les Aigues to
see the waiting…maid； and dined with her at least three times a week
at the Gaubertins'。
During Madame's lifetime dinner was served to her and to her company
by themselves。 Neither Cochet nor Gaubertin； in spite of their great
familiarity with the mistress； was ever admitted to her table； the
leading lady of the Academie Royale retained； to her last hour； her
sense of etiquette； her style of dress； her rouge and her heeled
slippers； her carriage； her servants； and the majesty of her
deportment。 A divinity at the Opera； a divinity within her range of
Parisian social life； she continued a divinity in the country
solitudes； where her memory is still worshipped； and still holds its
own against that of the old monarchy in the minds of the 〃best
society〃 of Soulanges。
Soudry； who had paid his addresses to Mademoiselle Cochet from the
time he first came into the neighborhood； owned the finest house in
Soulanges； an income of six thousand francs； and the prospect of a
retiring pension whenever he should quit the service。 As soon as
Cochet became Madame Soudry she was treated with great consideration
in the town。 Though she kept the strictest secrecy as to the amount of
her savings；which were intrusted； like those of Gaubertin； to the
commissary of wine…merchants of the department in Paris； a certain
Leclercq； a native of Soulanges； to whom Gaubertin supplied funds as
sleeping partner in his business；public opinion credited the former
waiting…maid with one of the largest fortunes in the little town of
twelve hundred inhabitants。
To the great astonishment of every one； Monsieur and Madame Soudry
acknowledged as legitimate； in their marriage contract； a natural son
of the gendarme； to whom； in future； Madame Soudry's fortune was to
descend。 At the time when this son was legally supplied with a mother；
he had just ended his law studies in Paris and was about to enter into
practice； with the intention of fitting himself for the magistracy。
It is scarcely necessary to remark that a mutual understanding of
twenty years had produced the closest intimacy between the families of
Gaubertin and Soudry。 Both reciprocally declared themselves； to the
end of their days； 〃urbi et orbi；〃 to be the most upright and
honora