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business at Ville…aux…Fayes。 The general doesn't know what he is
dealing with in these parts； he'll make himself hated； don't you see？
I shall wait for what turns up。 Do your work here gently； he'll tell
you to manage the people with a high hand； for he begins to see where
his crops and his woods are running to； but you'll not be such a fool
as to let the country…folk maul you； and perhaps worse； for the sake
of his timber。〃
〃But he would send me away； dear Monsieur Gaubertin； he would get rid
of me！ and you know how happy I am living there at the gate of the
Avonne。〃
〃The general will soon get sick of the whole place；〃 replied
Gaubertin； 〃you wouldn't be long out even if he did happen to send you
away。 Besides； you know those woods；〃 he added； waving his hand at the
landscape； 〃I am stronger there than the masters。〃
This conversation took place in an open field。
〃Those 'Arminac' Parisian fellows ought to stay in their own mud；〃
said the keeper。
Ever since the quarrels of the fifteenth century the word 'Arminac'
（Armagnacs； Parisians； enemies of the Dukes of Burgundy） has continued
to be an insulting term along the borders of Upper Burgundy； where it
is differently corrupted according to locality。
〃He'll go back to it when beaten；〃 said Gaubertin； 〃and we'll plough
up the park； for it is robbing the people to allow a man to keep nine
hundred acres of the best land in the valley for his own pleasure。〃
〃Four hundred families could get their living from it；〃 said
Courtecuisse。
〃If you want two acres for yourself you must help us to drive that cur
out；〃 remarked Gaubertin。
At the very moment that Gaubertin was fulminating this sentence of
excommunication； the worthy Sarcus was presenting his son…in…law
Sibilet to the Comte de Montcornet。 They had come with Adeline and the
children in a wicker carryall； lent by Sarcus's clerk； a Monsieur
Gourdon； brother of the Soulanges doctor； who was richer than the
magistrate himself。 The general； pleased with the candor and dignity
of the justice of the peace； and with the graceful bearing of Adeline
（both giving pledges in good faith； for they were totally ignorant of
the plans of Gaubertin）； at once granted all requests and gave such
advantages to the family of the new land…steward as to make the
position equal to that of a sub…prefect of the first class。
A lodge； built by Bouret as an object in the landscape and also as a
home for the steward； an elegant little building； the architecture of
which was sufficiently shown in the description of the gate of Blangy；
was promised to the Sibilets for their residence。 The general also
conceded the horse which Mademoiselle Laguerre had provided for
Gaubertin； in consideration of the size of the estate and the distance
he had to go to the markets where the business of the property was
transacted。 He allowed two hundred bushels of wheat； three hogsheads
of wine； wood in sufficient quantity； oats and barley in abundance；
and three per cent on all receipts of income。 Where the latter in
Mademoiselle Laguerre's time had amounted to forty thousand francs；
the general now； in 1818； in view of the purchases of land which
Gaubertin had made for her； expected to receive at least sixty
thousand。 The new land…steward might therefore receive before long
some two thousand francs in money。 Lodged； fed； warmed； relieved of
taxes； the costs of a horse and a poultry…yard defrayed for him； and
allowed to plant a kitchen…garden； with no questions asked as to the
day's work of the gardener； certainly such advantages represented much
more than another two thousand francs； for a man who was earning a
miserable salary of twelve hundred francs in a government office to
step into the stewardship of Les Aigues was a change from poverty to
opulence。
〃Be faithful to my interests；〃 said the general； 〃and I shall have
more to say to you。 Doubtless I could get the collection of the rents
of Conches； Blangy； and Cerneux taken away from the collection of
those of Soulanges and given to you。 In short； when you bring me in a
clear sixty thousand a year from Les Aigues you shall be still further
rewarded。〃
Unfortunately； the worthy justice and his daughter； in the flush of
their joy； told Madame Soudry the promise the general had made about
these collections； without reflecting that the present collector of
Soulanges； a man named Guerbet； brother of the postmaster of Conches；
was closely allied； as we shall see later； with Gaubertin and the
Gendrins。
〃It won't be so easy to do it； my dear；〃 said Madame Soudry； 〃but
don't prevent the general from making the attempt； it is wonderful how
easily difficult things are done in Paris。 I have seen the Chevalier
Gluck at dear Madame's feet to get her to sing his music； and she did；
she who so adored Piccini； one of the finest men of his day； never
did HE come into Madame's room without catching me round the waist and
calling me a dear rogue。〃
〃Ha！〃 cried Soudry； when his wife reported this news； 〃does he think
he is going to lead the notary by the nose； and upset everything to
please himself and make the whole valley march in line； as he did his
cuirassiers？ These military fellows have a habit of command！but
let's have patience； Monsieur de Soulanges and Monsieur de
Ronquerolles will be on our side。 Poor Guerbet！ he little suspects who
is trying to pluck the best roses out of his garland！〃
Pere Guerbet； the collector of Soulanges； was the wit； that is to say；
the jovial companion of the little town； and a hero in Madame Soudry's
salon。 Soudry's speech gives a fair idea of the opinion which now grew
up against the master of Les Aigues from Conches to Ville…aux…Fayes；
and wherever else the public mind could be reached and poisoned by
Gaubertin。
The installation of Sibilet took place in the autumn of 1817。 The year
1818 went by without the general being able to set foot at Les Aigues；
for his approaching marriage with Mademoiselle de Troisville； which
was celebrated in January； 1819； kept him the greater part of the
summer near Alencon； in the country…house of his prospective father…
in…law。 General Montcornet possessed； besides Les Aigues and a
magnificent house in Paris； some sixty thousand francs a year in the
Funds and the salary of a retired lieutenant…general。 Though Napoleon
had made him a count of the Empire and given him the following arms； a
field quarterly； the first； azure； bordure or； three pyramids argent；
the second； vert； three hunting horns argent； the third； gules； a
cannon or on a gun…carriage sable； and； in chief； a crescent or； the
fourth； or； a crown vert； with the motto （eminently of the middle
ages！）； 〃Sound the charge；〃Montcornet knew very well that he was the
son of a cabinet…maker in the faubourg Saint…Antoine； though he was
quite ready to forget it。 He was eaten up with the desire to be a peer
of France； and dreamed of his grand cordon of t