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〃But；〃 resumed the general； 〃what's the difficulty？ If I do lose the
suit against the Gravelots； a money wound is not mortal； and I'll have
the leasing of my forest so well advertised that there will be
competition； and I shall sell the timber at its true value。〃
〃Business is not done in that way； Monsieur le comte；〃 said Sibilet。
〃Suppose you get no lessees； what will you do？〃
〃Cut the timber myself and sell it〃
〃You； a wood merchant？〃 said Sibilet。 〃Well； without looking at
matters here； how would it be in Paris？ You would have to hire a wood…
yard； pay for a license and the taxes； also for the right of
navigation； and duties； and the costs of unloading； besides the salary
of a trustworthy agent〃
〃Yes； it is impracticable；〃 said the general hastily； alarmed at the
prospect。 〃But why can't I find persons to lease the right of cutting
timber as before？〃
〃Monsieur le comte has enemies。〃
〃Who are they？〃
〃Well； in the first place； Monsieur Gaubertin。〃
〃Do you mean the scoundrel whose place you took？〃
〃Not so loud； Monsieur le comte；〃 said Sibilet； showing fear； 〃I beg
of you； not so loud；my cook might hear us。〃
〃Do you mean to tell me that I am not to speak on my own estate of a
villain who robbed me？〃 cried the general。
〃For the sake of your own peace and comfort； come further away；
Monsieur le comte。 Monsieur Gaubertin is mayor of Ville…aux…Fayes。〃
〃Ha！ I congratulate Ville…aux…Fayes。 Thunder！ what a nobly governed
town！〃
〃Do me the honor to listen； Monsieur le comte； and to believe that I
am talking of serious matters which may affect your future life in
this place。〃
〃I am listening； let us sit down on this bench here。〃
〃Monsieur le comte； when you dismissed Gaubertin； he had to find some
employment； for he was not rich〃
〃Not rich！ when he stole twenty thousand francs a year from this
estate？〃
〃Monsieur le comte； I don't pretend to excuse him；〃 replied Sibilet。
〃I want to see Les Aigues prosperous； if it were only to prove
Gaubertin's dishonest； but we ought not to abuse him openly for he is
one of the most dangerous scoundrels to be found in all Burgundy； and
he is now in a position to injure you。〃
〃In what way？〃 asked the general； sobering down。
〃Gaubertin has control of nearly one third of the supplies sent to
Paris。 As general agent of the timber business； he orders all the work
of the forests；the felling； chopping； floating； and sending to
market。 Being in close relations with the workmen； he is the arbiter
of prices。 It has taken him three years to create this position； but
he holds it now like a fortress。 He is essential to all dealers； never
favoring one more than another； he regulates the whole business in
their interests； and their affairs are better and more cheaply looked
after by him than they were in the old time by separate agents for
each firm。 For instance； he has so completely put a stop to
competition that he has absolute control of the auction sales； the
crown and the State are both dependent on him。 Their timber is sold
under the hammer and falls invariably to Gaubertin's dealers； in fact；
no others attempt now to bid against them。 Last year Monsieur
Mariotte； of Auxerre； urged by the commissioner of domains； did
attempt to compete with Gaubertin。 At first； Gaubertin let him buy the
standing wood at the usual prices； but when it came to cutting it； the
Avonnais workmen asked such enormous prices that Monsieur Mariotte was
obliged to bring laborers from Auxerre； whom the Ville…aux…Fayes
workmen attacked and drove away。 The head of the coalition； and the
ringleader of the brawl were brought before the police court； and the
suits cost Monsieur Mariotte a great deal of money； for； besides the
odium of having convicted and punished poor men； he was forced to pay
all costs； because the losing side had not a farthing to do it with。 A
suit against laboring men is sure to result in hatred to those who
live among them。 Let me warn you of this； for if you follow the course
you propose； you will have to fight against the poor of this district
at least。 But that's not all。 Counting it over； Monsieur Mariotte； a
worthy man； found he was the loser by his original lease。 Forced to
pay ready money； he was nevertheless obliged to sell on time；
Gaubertin delivered his timber at long credits for the purpose of
ruining his competitor。 He undersold him by at least five per cent；
and the end of it is that poor Mariotte's credit is badly shaken。
Gaubertin is now pressing and harassing the poor man so that he is
driven； they tell me； to leave not only Auxerre； but even Burgundy
itself； and he is right。 In this way land…owners have long been
sacrificed to dealers who now set the market…prices； just as the
furniture…dealers in Paris dictate values to appraisers。 But Gaubertin
saves the owners so much trouble and worry that they are really
gainers。〃
〃How so？〃 asked the general。
〃In the first place； because the less complicated a business is； the
greater the profits to the owners；〃 answered Sibilet。 〃Besides which；
their income is more secure； and in all matters of rural improvement
and development that is the main thing； as you will find out。 Then；
too； Monsieur Gaubertin is the friend and patron of working…men； he
pays them well and keeps them always at work； therefore； though their
families live on the estates； the woods leased to dealers and
belonging to the land…owners who trust the care of their property to
Gaubertin （such as MM。 de Soulanges and de Ronquerolles） are not
devastated。 The dead wood is gathered up； but that is all〃
〃That rascal Gaubertin has lost no time！〃 cried the general。
〃He is a bold man；〃 said Sibilet。 〃He really is； as he calls himself；
the steward of the best half of the department； instead of being
merely the steward of Les Aigues。 He makes a little out of everybody；
and that little on every two millions brings him in forty to fifty
thousand francs a year。 He says himself； 'The fires on the Parisian
hearths pay it all。' He is your enemy； Monsieur le comte。 My advice to
you is to capitulate and be reconciled with him。 He is intimate； as
you know； with Soudry； the head of the gendarmerie at Soulanges； with
Monsieur Rigou； our mayor at Blangy； the patrols are under his
influence； therefore you will find it impossible to repress the
pilferings which are eating into your estate。 During the last two
years your woods have been devastated。 Consequently the Gravelots are
more than likely to win their suit。 They say； very truly： 'According
to the terms of the lease； the care of the woods is left to the owner；
he does not protect them； and we are injured； the owner is bound to
pay us damages。' That's fair enough； but it doesn't follow that they
should win their case。〃
〃We must be ready to defend this suit at all costs；〃 said the general；
〃and then we shall have no more of them。〃
〃You sha