按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
amounted。 The natural man took the bit in his teeth and ran off with
the general； who totally forgot his coronet and his field rank； he was
a trooper once more； vomiting curses of which he probably was ashamed
when he thought of them later。
〃Ha！ eleven hundred francs！〃 he shouted； 〃eleven hundred slaps in your
face！ eleven hundred kicks！Do you think I can't see straight through
your lies？ Out of my sight； or I'll strike you flat！〃
At the mere look of the general's purple face and before that warrior
could get out the last words； Courtecuisse was off like a swallow。
〃Monsieur le comte；〃 said Sibilet； gently； 〃you are wrong。〃
〃Wrong！ I； wrong？〃
〃Yes； Monsieur le comte； take care； you will have trouble with that
rascal； he will sue you。〃
〃What do I care for that？ Tell the scoundrel to leave the place
instantly！ See that he takes nothing of mine； and pay him his wages。〃
Four hours later the whole country…side was gossiping about this
scene。 The general； they said； had assaulted the unfortunate
Courtecuisse； and refused to pay his wages and two thousand francs
besides； which he owed him。 Extraordinary stories went the rounds； and
the master of Les Aigues was declared insane。 The next day Brunet； who
had served all the warrants for the general； now brought him on behalf
of Courtecuisse a summon to appear before the police court。 The lion
was stung by gnats； but his misery was only just beginning。
The installation of a keeper is not done without a few formalities； he
must； for instance； file an oath in the civil court。 Some days
therefore elapsed before the three keepers really entered upon their
functions。 Though the general had written to Michaud to bring his wife
without waiting until the lodge at the gate of the Avonne was ready
for them； the future head…keeper； or rather bailiff； was detained in
Paris by his marriage and his wife's family； and did not reach Les
Aigues until a fortnight later。 During those two weeks； and during the
time still further required for certain formalities which were carried
out with very ill grace by the authorities at Ville…aux…Fayes； the
forest of Les Aigues was shamefully devastated by the peasantry； who
took advantage of the fact that there was practically no watch over
it。
The appearance of three keepers handsomely dressed in green cloth； the
Emperor's color； with faces denoting firmness； and each of them well…
made； active； and capable of spending their nights in the woods； was a
great event in the valley； from Conches to Ville…aux…Fayes。
Throughout the district Groison was the only man who welcomed these
veterans。 Delighted to be thus reinforced； he let fall a few threats
against thieves； who before long； he said； would be watched so closely
that they could do no damage。 Thus the usual proclamation of all great
commanders was not lacking to the present war； in this case it was
said aloud and also whispered in secret。
Sibilet called the general's attention to the fact that the
gendarmerie of Soulanges； and especially its brigadier； Soudry； were
thoroughly and hypocritically hostile to Les Aigues。 He made him see
the importance of substituting another brigade； which might show a
better spirit。
〃With a good brigadier and a company of gendarmes devoted to your
interests； you could manage the country；〃 he said to him。
The general went to the Prefecture and obtained from the general in
command of the division the retirement of Soudry and the substitution
of a man named Viallet； an excellent gendarme at headquarters； who was
much praised by his general and the prefect。 The company of gendarmes
at Soulanges were dispersed to other places in the department by the
colonel of the gendarmerie； an old friend of Montcornet； and chosen
men were put in their places with secret orders to keep watch over the
estate of the Comte de Montcornet； and prevent all future attempts to
injure it； they were also particularly enjoined not to allow
themselves to be gained over by the inhabitants of Soulanges。
This last revolutionary measure； carried out with such rapidity that
there was no possibility of countermining it created much astonishment
in Soulanges and in Ville…aux…Fayes。 Soudry； who felt himself
dismissed； complained bitterly； and Gaubertin managed to get him
appointed mayor； which put the gendarmerie under his orders。 An outcry
was made about tyranny。 Montcornet became an object of general hatred。
Not only were five or six lives radically changed by him； but many
personal vanities were wounded。 The peasants； taking their cue from
words dropped by the small tradesmen of Ville…aux…Fayes and Soulanges；
and by Rigou； Langlume； Guerbet； and the postmaster at Conches；
thought they were on the eve of losing what they called their rights。
The general stopped the suit brought by Courtecuisse by paying him all
he demanded。 The man then purchased； nominally for two thousand
francs； a little property surrounded on all sides but one by the
estate of Les Aigues；a sort of cover into which the game escaped。
Rigou； the owner； had never been willing to part with La Bachelerie；
as it was called； to the possessors of the estate； but he now took
malicious pleasure in selling it； at fifty per cent discount； to
Courtecuisse； which made the ex…keeper one of Rigou's numerous
henchmen； for all he actually paid for the property was one thousand
francs。
The three keepers； with Michaud the bailiff； and Groison the field…
keeper of Blangy； led henceforth the life of guerrillas。 Living night
and day in the forest； they soon acquired that deep knowledge of
woodland things which becomes a science among foresters； saving them
much loss of time； they studied the tracks of animals； the species of
the trees； and their habits of growth； training their ears to every
sound and to every murmur of the woods。 Still further； they observed
faces； watched and understood the different families in the various
villages of the district； and knew the individuals in each family；
their habits； characters； and means of living；a far more difficult
matter than most persons suppose。 When the peasants who obtained their
living from Les Aigues saw these well…planned measures of defence；
they met them with dumb resistance or sneering submission。
From the first； Michaud and Sibilet mutually disliked each other。 The
frank and loyal soldier； with the sense of honor of a subaltern of the
young 〃garde；〃 hated the servile brutality and the discontented spirit
of the steward。 He soon took note of the objections with which Sibilet
opposed all measures that were really judicious； and the reasons he
gave for those that were questionable。 Instead of calming the general；
Sibilet； as the reader has already seen； constantly excited him and
drove him to harsh measures； all the while trying to daunt him by
drawing his attention to countless annoyances； petty vexations； and
ever…recurring and unconquerable diff