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The day after the quarrel； Gaubertin came； with a keeper named
Courtecuisse； and demanded with much insolence his release in full of
all claims； showing the general the one he had obtained from his late
mistress in such flattering terms； and asking； ironically； that a
search should be made for the property； real and otherwise； which he
was supposed to have stolen。 If he had received fees from the wood…
merchants on their purchases and from the farmers on their leases；
Mademoiselle Laguerre； he said； had always allowed it； not only did
she gain by the bargains he made； but everything went on smoothly
without troubling her。 The country…people would have died； he
remarked； for Mademoiselle； whereas the general was laying up for
himself a store of difficulties。
Gaubertinand this trait is frequently to be seen in the majority of
those professions in which the property of others can be taken by
means not foreseen by the Codeconsidered himself a perfectly honest
man。 In the first place； he had so long had possession of the money
extorted from Mademoiselle Laguerre's farmers through fear； and paid
in assignats； that he regarded it as legitimately acquired。 It was a
mere matter of exchange。 He thought that in the end he should have
quite as much risk with coin as with paper。 Besides； legally；
Mademoiselle had no right to receive any payment except in assignats。
〃Legally〃 is a fine； robust adverb； which bolsters up many a fortune！
Moreover； he reflected that ever since great estates and land…agents
had existed； that is； ever since the origin of society； the said
agents had set up； for their own use； an argument such as we find our
cooks using in this present day。 Here it is； in its simplicity：
〃If my mistress；〃 says the cook； 〃went to market herself； she would
have to pay more for her provisions than I charge her； she is the
gainer； and the profits I make do more good in my hands than in those
of the dealers。〃
〃If Mademoiselle；〃 thought Gaubertin； 〃were to manage Les Aigues
herself； she would never get thirty thousand francs a year out of it；
the peasants； the dealers； the workmen would rob her of the rest。 It
is much better that I should have it； and so enable her to live in
peace。〃
The Catholic religion； and it alone； is able to prevent these
capitulations of conscience。 But； ever since 1789 religion has no
influence on two thirds of the French people。 The peasants； whose
minds are keen and whose poverty drives them to imitation； had
reached； specially in the valley of Les Aigues； a frightful state of
demoralization。 They went to mass on Sundays； but only at the outside
of the church； where it was their custom to meet and transact business
and make their weekly bargains。
We can now estimate the extent of the evil done by the careless
indifference of the great singer to the management of her property。
Mademoiselle Laguerre betrayed； through mere selfishness； the
interests of those who owned property； who are held in perpetual
hatred by those who own none。 Since 1792 the land…owners of Paris have
become of necessity a combined body。 If； alas； the feudal families；
less numerous than the middle…class families； did not perceive the
necessity of combining in 1400 under Louis XI。； nor in 1600 under
Richelieu； can we expect that in this nineteenth century of progress
the middle classes will prove to be more permanently and solidly
combined that the old nobility？ An oligarchy of a hundred thousand
rich men presents all the dangers of a democracy with none of its
advantages。 The principle of 〃every man for himself and for his own；〃
the selfishness of individual interests； will kill the oligarchical
selfishness so necessary to the existence of modern society； and which
England has practised with such success for the last three centuries。
Whatever may be said or done； land…owners will never understand the
necessity of the sort of internal discipline which made the Church
such an admirable model of government； until； too late； they find
themselves in danger from one another。 The audacity with which
communism； that living and acting logic of democracy； attacks society
from the moral side； shows plainly that the Samson of to…day； grown
prudent； is undermining the foundations of the cellar； instead of
shaking the pillars of the hall。
CHAPTER VII
CERTAIN LOST SOCIAL SPECIES
The estate of Les Aigues could not do without a steward； for the
general had no intention of renouncing his winter pleasures in Paris；
where he owned a fine house in the rue Neuve…des…Mathurines。 He
therefore looked about for a successor to Gaubertin； but it is very
certain that his search was not as eager as that of Gaubertin himself；
who was seeking for the right person to put in his way。
Of all confidential positions there is none that requires more trained
knowledge of its kind； or more activity； than that of land…steward to
a great estate。 The difficulty of finding the right man is only fully
known to those wealthy landlords whose property lies beyond a certain
circle around Paris； beginning at a distance of about one hundred and
fifty miles。 At that point agricultural productions for the markets of
Paris； which warrant rentals on long leases （collected often by other
tenants who are rich themselves）； cease to be cultivated。 The farmers
who raise them drive to the city in their own cabriolets to pay their
rents in good bank…bills； unless they send the money through their
agents in the markets。 For this reason； the farms of the Seine…et…
Oise； Seine…et…Marne； the Oise； the Eure…et…Loir； the Lower Seine； and
the Loiret are so desirable that capital cannot always be invested
there at one and a half per cent。 Compared to the returns on estates
in Holland； England； and Belgium； this result is enormous。 But at one
hundred miles from Paris an estate requires such variety of working；
its products are so different in kind； that it becomes a business；
with all the risks attendant on manufacturing。 The wealthy owner is
really a merchant； forced to look for a market for his products； like
the owner of ironworks or cotton factories。 He does not even escape
competition； the peasant； the small proprietor； is at his heels with
an avidity which leads to transactions to which well…bred persons
cannot condescend。
A land…steward must understand surveying； the customs of the locality；
the methods of sale and of labor； together with a little quibbling in
the interests of those he serves； he must also understand book…keeping
and commercial matters； and be in perfect health； with a liking for
active life and horse exercise。 His duty being to represent his master
and to be always in communication with him； the steward ought not to
be a man of the people。 As the salary of his office seldom exceeds
three thousand francs； the problem seems insoluble。 How is it possible
to obtain so many qualifications for such a very moderate price；in a
reg