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than the other kind； men can be killed but you can't kill self…
interest。 You will fight your enemy on the battle…field where all
landlords are compelled to fight；I mean cash results。 It is not
enough to produce； you must sell； and in order to sell； you must be on
good terms with everybody。〃
〃I shall have the country people on my side。〃
〃By what means？〃
〃By doing good among them。〃
〃Doing good to the valley peasants！ to the petty shopkeepers of
Soulanges！〃 exclaimed Sibilet； squinting horribly； by reason of the
irony which flamed brighter in one eye than in the other。 〃Monsieur le
comte doesn't know what he undertakes。 Our Lord Jesus Christ would die
again upon the cross in this valley！ If you wish an easy life； follow
the example of the late Mademoiselle Laguerre； let yourself be robbed；
or else make people afraid of you。 Women； children； and the masses are
all governed by fear。 That was the great secret of the Convention； and
of the Emperor； too。〃
〃Good heavens！ is this the forest of Bondy？〃 cried the general。
〃My dear；〃 said Sibilet's wife； appearing at this moment； 〃your
breakfast is ready。 Pray excuse him； Monsieur le comte； he has eaten
nothing since morning for he was obliged to go to Ronquerolles to
deliver some barley。〃
〃Go； go； Sibilet；〃 said the general。
The next morning the count rose early； before daylight； and went to
the gate of the Avonne； intending to talk with the one forester whom
he employed and find out what the man's sentiments really were。
Some seven or eight hundred acres of the forest of Les Aigues lie
along the banks of the Avonne； and to preserve the majestic beauty of
the river the large trees that border it have been left untouched for
a distance of three leagues on both sides in an almost straight line。
The mistress of Henri IV。； to whom Les Aigues formerly belonged； was
as fond of hunting as the king himself。 In 1593 she ordered a bridge
to be built of a single arch with shelving roadway by which to ride
from the lower side of the forest to a much larger portion of it；
purchased by her； which lay upon the slopes of the hills。 The gate of
the Avonne was built as a place of meeting for the huntsmen； and we
know the magnificence bestowed by the architects of that day upon all
buildings intended for the delight of the crown and the nobility。 Six
avenues branched away from it； their place of meeting forming a half…
moon。 In the centre of the semi…circular space stood an obelisk
surmounted by a round shield； formerly gilded； bearing on one side the
arms of Navarre and on the other those of the Countess de Moret。
Another half…moon； on the side toward the river； communicated with the
first by a straight avenue； at the opposite end of which the steep
rise of the Venetian…shaped bridge could be seen。 Between two elegant
iron railings of the same character as that of the magnificent railing
which formerly surrounded the garden of the Place Royale in Paris； now
so unfortunately destroyed； stood a brick pavilion； with stone courses
hewn in facets like those of the chateau； with a very pointed roof and
window…casings of stone cut in the same manner。 This old style； which
gave the building a regal air； is suitable only to prisons when used
in cities； but standing in the heart of forests it derives from its
surroundings a splendor of its own。 A group of trees formed a screen；
behind which the kennels； an old falconry； a pheasantry； and the
quarters of the huntsmen were falling into ruins； after being in their
day the wonder and admiration of Burgundy。
In 1595； the royal hunting…parties set forth from this magnificent
pavilion； preceded by those fine dogs so dear to Rubens and to Paul
Veronese； the huntsmen mounted on high…steeping steeds with stout and
blue…white satiny haunches； seen no longer except in Wouverman's
amazing work； followed by footmen in livery； the scene enlivened by
whippers…in； wearing the high top…boots with facings and the yellow
leathern breeches which have come down to the present day on the
canvas of Van der Meulen。 The obelisk was erected in commemoration of
the visit of the Bearnais； and his hunt with the beautiful Comtesse de
Moret； the date is given below the arms of Navarre。 That jealous
woman； whose son was afterwards legitimatized； would not allow the
arms of France to figure on the obelisk； regarding them as a rebuke。
At the time of which we write； when the general's eyes rested on this
splendid ruin； moss had gathered for centuries on the four faces of
the roof； the hewn…stone courses； mangled by time； seemed to cry with
yawning mouths against the profanation； disjointed leaden settings let
fall their octagonal panes； so that the windows seemed blind of an eye
here and there。 Yellow wallflowers bloomed about the copings； ivy slid
its white rootlets into every crevice。
All things bespoke a shameful want of care；the seal set by mere
life…possessors on the ancient glories that they possess。 Two windows
on the first floor were stuffed with hay。 Through another； on the
ground…floor； was seen a room filled with tools and logs of wood；
while a cow pushed her muzzle through a fourth； proving that
Courtecuisse； to avoid having to walk from the pavilion to the
pheasantry； had turned the large hall of the central building into a
stable；a hall with panelled ceiling； and in the centre of each panel
the arms of all the various possessors of Les Aigues！
Black and dirty palings disgraced the approach to the pavilion； making
square inclosures with plank roofs for pigs； ducks； and hens； the
manure of which was taken away every six months。 A few ragged garments
were hung to dry on the brambles which boldly grew unchecked here and
there。 As the general came along the avenue from the bridge； Madame
Courtecuisse was scouring a saucepan in which she had just made her
coffee。 The forester； sitting on a chair in the sun； considered his
wife as a savage considers his。 When he heard a horse's hoofs he
turned round； saw the count； and seemed taken aback。
〃Well； Courtecuisse； my man；〃 said the general； 〃I'm not surprised
that the peasants cut my woods before Messrs。 Gravelot can do so。 So
you consider your place a sinecure？〃
〃Indeed； Monsieur le comte； I have watched the woods so many nights
that I'm ill from it。 I've got a chill； and I suffer such pain this
morning that my wife has just made me a poultice in that saucepan。〃
〃My good fellow；〃 said the count； 〃I don't know of any pain that a
coffee poultice cures except that of hunger。 Listen to me； you rascal！
I rode through my forest yesterday； and then through those of Monsieur
de Soulanges and Monsieur de Ronquerolles。 Theirs are carefully
watched and preserved； while mine is in a shameful state。〃
〃Ah； monsieur！ but they are the old lords of the neighborhood；
everybody respects their property。 How can you expect me to fight
against six districts？ I care for my life more than for y