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everybody respects their property。 How can you expect me to fight
against six districts？ I care for my life more than for your woods。 A
man who would undertake to watch your woods as they ought to be
watched would get a ball in his head for wages in some dark corner of
the forest〃
〃Coward！〃 cried the general； trying to control the anger the man's
insolent reply provoked in him。 〃Last night was as clear as day； yet
it cost me three hundred francs in actual robbery and over a thousand
in future damages。 You will leave my service unless you do better。 All
wrong…doing deserves some mercy； therefore these are my conditions：
You may have the fines； and I will pay you three francs for every
indictment you bring against these depredators。 If I don't get what I
expect； you know what you have to expect； and no pension either。
Whereas； if you serve me faithfully and contrive to stop these
depredations； I'll give you an annuity of three hundred francs for
life。 You can think it over。 Here are six ways；〃 continued the count；
pointing to the branching roads； 〃there's only one for you to take；
as for me also； who am not afraid of balls； try and find the right
one。〃
Courtecuisse； a small man about forty…six years of age； with a full…
moon face； found his greatest happiness in doing nothing。 He expected
to live and die in that pavilion； now considered by him HIS pavilion。
His two cows were pastured in the forest； from which he got his wood；
and he spent his time in looking after his garden instead of after the
delinquents。 Such neglect of duty suited Gaubertin； and Courtecuisse
knew it did。 The keeper chased only those depredators who were the
objects of his personal dislike；young women who would not yield to
his wishes； or persons against whom he held a grudge； though for some
time past he had really felt no dislikes； for every one yielded to him
on account of his easy…going ways with them。
Courtecuisse had a place always kept for him at the table of the
Grand…I…Vert； the wood…pickers feared him no longer； indeed； his wife
and he received many gifts in kind from them； his wood was brought in；
his vineyard dug； in short； all delinquents at whom he blinked did him
service。
Counting on Gaubertin for the future； and feeling sure of two acres
whenever Les Aigues should be brought to the hammer； he was roughly
awakened by the curt speech of the general； who； after four quiescent
years； was now revealing his true character；that of a bourgeois rich
man who was determined to be no longer deceived。 Courtecuisse took his
cap； his game…bag； and his gun； put on his gaiters and his belt （which
bore the very recent arms of Montcornet）； and started for Ville…aux…
Fayes； with the careless； indifferent air and manner under which
country…people often conceal very deep reflections； while he gazed at
the woods and whistled to the dogs to follow him。
〃What！ you complain of the Shopman when he proposes to make your
fortune？〃 said Gaubertin。 〃Doesn't the fool offer to give you three
francs for every arrest you make； and the fines to boot？ Have an
understanding with your friends and you can bring as many indictments
as you please；hundreds if you like！ With one thousand francs you can
buy La Bachelerie from Rigou； become a property owner； live in your
own house； and work for yourself； or rather； make others work for you；
and take your ease。 Onlynow listen to meyou must manage to arrest
only such as haven't a penny in the world。 You can't shear sheep
unless the wool is on their backs。 Take the Shopman's offer and leave
him to collect the costs；if he wants them； tastes differ。 Didn't old
Mariotte prefer losses to profits； in spite of my advice？〃
Courtecuisse； filled with admiration for these words of wisdom；
returned home burning with the desire to be a land…owner and a
bourgeois like the rest。
When the general reached Les Aigues he related his expedition to
Sibilet。
〃Monsieur le comte did very right；〃 said the steward； rubbing his
hands； 〃but he must not stop short half…way。 The field…keeper of the
district who allows the country…people to prey upon the meadows and
rob the harvests ought to be changed。 Monsieur le comte should have
himself chosen mayor； and appoint one of his old soldiers； who would
have the courage to carry out his orders； in place of Vaudoyer。 A
great land…owner should be master in his own district。 Just see what
difficulties we have with the present mayor！〃
The mayor of the district of Blangy； formerly a Benedictine； named
Rigou； had married； in the first year of the Republic； the servant…
woman of the late priest of Blangy。 In spite of the repugnance which a
married monk excited at the Prefecture； he had continued to be mayor
after 1815； for the reason that there was no…one else at Blangy who
was capable of filling the post。 But in 1817； when the bishop sent the
Abbe Brossette to the parish of Blangy （which had then been vacant
over twenty…five years）； a violent opposition not unnaturally broke
out between the old apostate and the young ecclesiastic； whose
character is already known to us。 The war which was then and there
declared between the mayor's office and the parsonage increased the
popularity of the magistrate； who had hitherto been more or less
despised。 Rigou； whom the peasants had disliked for usurious dealings；
now suddenly represented their political and financial interests；
supposed to be threatened by the Restoration； and more especially by
the clergy。
A copy of the 〃Constitutionnel；〃 that great organ of liberalism； after
making the rounds of the Cafe de la Paix； came back to Rigou on the
seventh day；the subscription； standing in the name of old Socquard
the keeper of the coffee…house； being shared by twenty persons。 Rigou
passed the paper on to Langlume the miller； who； in turn； gave it in
shreds to any one who knew how to read。 The 〃Paris items；〃 and the
anti…religion jokes of the liberal sheet formed the public opinion of
the valley des Aigues。 Rigou； like the VENERABLE Abbe Gregoire； became
a hero。 For him； as for certain Parisian bankers； politics spread a
mantle of popularity over his shameful dishonesty。
At this particular time the perjured monk； like Francois Keller the
great orator； was looked upon as a defender of the rights of the
people；he who； not so very long before； dared not walk in the fields
after dark； lest he should stumble into pitfalls where he would seem
to have been killed by accident！ Persecute a man politically and you
not only magnify him； but you redeem his past and make it innocent。
The liberal party was a great worker of miracles in this respect。 Its
dangerous journal； which had the wit to make itself as commonplace； as
calumniating； as credulous； and as sillily perfidious as every
audience made up the general masses； did in all probability as much
injury to private interests as it did to those of the Church。
Rigou flattered himself that he shou