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end of their days； 〃urbi et orbi；〃 to be the most upright and
honorable persons in all France。 Such community of interests； based on
the mutual knowledge of the secret spots on the white garment of
conscience； is one of the ties least recognized and hardest to untie
in this low world。 You who read this social drama； have you never felt
a conviction as to two persons which has led you to say to yourself；
in order to explain the continuance of a faithful devotion which made
your own egotism blush； 〃They must surely have committed some crime
together〃？
After an administration of twenty…five years； Gaubertin； the land…
steward； found himself in possession of six hundred thousand francs in
money； and Cochet had accumulated nearly two hundred and fifty
thousand。 The rapid and constant turning over and over of their funds
in the hands of Leclercq and Company （on the quai Bethume； Ile Saint
Louis； rivals of the famous house of Grandet） was a great assistance
to the fortunes of all parties。 On the death of Mademoiselle Laguerre；
Jenny； the steward's eldest daughter was asked in marriage by
Leclercq。 Gaubertin expected at that time to become owner of Les
Aigues by means of a plot laid in the private office of Lupin； the
notary； whom the steward had set up and maintained in business within
the last twelve years。
Lupin； a son of the former steward of the estate of Soulanges； had
lent himself to various slight peculations；investments at fifty per
cent below par； notices published surreptitiously； and all the other
manoeuvres； unhappily common in the provinces； to wrap a mantle； as
the saying is； over the clandestine manipulations of property。 Lately
a company has been formed in Paris； so they say； to levy contributions
upon such plotters under a threat of outbidding them。 But in 1816
France was not； as it is now； lighted by a flaming publicity； the
accomplices might safely count on dividing Les Aigues among them； that
is； between Cochet； the notary； and Gaubertin； the latter of whom
reserved to himself； 〃in petto；〃 the intention of buying the others
out for a sum down； as soon as the property fairly stood in his own
name。 The lawyer employed by the notary to manage the sale of the
estate was under personal obligations to Gaubertin； so that he favored
the spoliation of the heirs； unless any of the eleven farmers of
Picardy should take it into their heads to think they were cheated；
and inquire into the real value of the property。
Just as those interested expected to find their fortunes made； a
lawyer came from Paris on the evening before the final settlement； and
employed a notary at Ville…aux…Fayes； who happened to be one of his
former clerks； to buy the estate of Les Aigues； which he did for
eleven hundred thousand francs。 None of the conspirators dared outbid
an offer of eleven hundred thousand francs。 Gaubertin suspected some
treachery on Soudry's part； and Soudry and Lupin thought they were
tricked by Gaubertin。 But a statement on the part of the purchasing
agent； the notary of Ville…aux…Fayes； disabused them of these
suspicions。 The latter； though suspecting the plan formed by
Gaubertin； Lupin； and Soudry； refrained from informing the lawyer in
Paris； for the reason that if the new owners indiscreetly repeated his
words； he would have too many enemies at his heels to be able to stay
where he was。 This reticence； peculiar to provincials； was in this
particular case amply justified by succeeding events。 If the dwellers
in the provinces are dissemblers； they are forced to be so； their
excuse lies in the danger expressed in the old proverb； 〃We must howl
with the wolves；〃 a meaning which underlies the character of
Phillinte。
When General Montcornet took possession of Les Aigues； Gaubertin was
no longer rich enough to give up his place。 In order to marry his
daughter to a rich banker he was obliged to give her a dowry of two
hundred thousand francs； he had to pay thirty thousand for his son's
practice； and all that remained of his accumulations was three hundred
and seventy thousand； out of which he would be forced； sooner or
later； to pay the dowry of his remaining daughter； Elise； for whom he
hoped to arrange a marriage at least as good as that of her sister。
The steward determined to study the general； in order to find out if
he could disgust him with the place；hoping still to be able to carry
out his defeated plan in his own interests。
With the peculiar instinct which characterizes those who make their
fortunes by craft； Gaubertin believed in a resemblance of nature
（which was not improbable） between an old soldier and an Opera…singer。
An actress； and a general of the Empire；surely they would have the
same extravagant habits； the same careless prodigality？ To the one as
to the other； riches came capriciously and by lucky chances。 If some
soldiers are wily and astute and clever politicians； they are
exceptions； a soldier is； usually； especially an accomplished cavalry
officer like Montcornet； guileless； confident； a novice in business；
and little fitted to understand details in the management of an
estate。 Gaubertin flattered himself that he could catch and hold the
general with the same net in which Mademoiselle Laguerre had finished
her days。 But it so happened that the Emperor had once； intentionally；
allowed Montcornet to play the same game in Pomerania that Gaubertin
was playing at Les Aigues； consequently； the general fully understood
a system of plundering。
In planting cabbages； to use the expression of the first Duc de Biron；
the old cuirassier sought to divert his mind； by occupation； from
dwelling on his fall。 Though he had yielded his 〃corps d'armee〃 to the
Bourbons； that duty （performed by other generals and termed the
disbanding of the army of the Loire） could not atone for the crime of
having followed the man of the Hundred…Days to his last battle…field。
In presence of the allied army it was impossible for the peer of 1815
to remain in the service； still less at the Luxembourg。 Accordingly；
Montcornet betook himself to the country by advice of a dismissed
marshal； to plunder Nature herself。 The general was not deficient in
the special cunning of an old military fox； and after he had spent a
few days in examining his new property； he saw that Gaubertin was a
steward of the old system；a swindler； such as the dukes and marshals
of the Empire； those mushrooms bred from the common earth； were well
acquainted with。
The wily general； soon aware of Gaubertin's great experience in rural
administration； felt it was politic to keep well with him until he had
himself learned the secrets of it； accordingly； he passed himself off
as another Mademoiselle Laguerre； a course which lulled the steward
into false security。 This apparent simple…mindedness lasted all the
time it took the general to learn the strength and weakness of Les
Aigues； to master the details of its revenues and the manner of
collect