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drawing his attention to countless annoyances； petty vexations； and
ever…recurring and unconquerable difficulties。 Without suspecting the
role of spy and exasperator undertaken by Sibilet （who secretly
intended to eventually make choice in his own interests between
Gaubertin and the general） Michaud felt that the steward's nature was
bad and grasping； and he was unable to explain to himself its apparent
honesty。 The enmity which separated the two functionaries was
satisfactory to the general。 Michaud's hatred led him to watch the
steward； though he would not have condescended to play the part of spy
if the general had not required it。 Sibilet fawned upon the bailiff
and flattered him； without being able to get anything from him beyond
an extreme politeness which the loyal soldier established between them
as a barrier。
Now； all preliminary details having been made known； the reader will
understand the conduct of the general's enemies and the meaning of the
conversation which he had with what he called his two ministers； after
Madame de Montcornet； the abbe； and Blondet left the breakfast…table。
CHAPTER IX
CONCERNING THE MEDIOCRACY
〃Well； Michaud； what's the news？〃 asked the general as soon as his
wife had left the room。
〃General； if you will permit me to say so； it would be better not to
talk over matters in this room。 Walls have ears； and I should like to
be certain that what we say reaches none but our own。〃
〃Very good；〃 said the general； 〃then let us walk towards the steward's
lodge by the path through the fields； no one can overhear us there。〃
A few moments later the general； with Michaud and Sibilet； was
crossing the meadows； while Madame de Montcornet； with the abbe and
Blondet； was on her way to the gate of the Avonne。
Michaud related the scene that had just taken place at the Grand…I…
Vert。
〃Vatel did wrong；〃 said Sibilet。
〃They made that plain to him at once；〃 replied Michaud； 〃by blinding
him； but that's nothing。 General； you remember the plan we agreed
upon；to seize the cattle of those depredators against whom judgment
was given？ Well； we can't do it。 Brunet； like his colleague Plissoud；
is not loyal in his support。 They both warn the delinquents when they
are about to make a seizure。 Vermichel； Brunet's assistant； went to
the Grand…I…Vert this morning； ostensibly after Pere Fourchon； and
Marie Tonsard； who is intimate with Bonnebault； ran off at once to
give the alarm at Conches。 The depredations have begun again。〃
〃A strong show of authority is becoming daily more and more
necessary；〃 said Sibilet。
〃What did I tell you？〃 cried the general。 〃We must demand the
enforcement of the judgment of the court； which carried with it
imprisonment； we must arrest for debt all those who do not pay the
damages I have won and the costs of the suits。〃
〃These fellows imagine the law is powerless； and tell each other that
you dare not arrest them；〃 said Sibilet。 〃They think they frighten
you！ They have confederates at Ville…aux…Fayes； for even the
prosecuting attorney seems to have ignored the verdicts against them。〃
〃I think；〃 said Michaud； seeing that the general looked thoughtful；
〃that if you are willing to spend a good deal of money you can still
protect the property。〃
〃It is better to spend money than to act harshly；〃 remarked Sibilet。
〃What is your plan？〃 asked the general of his bailiff。
〃It is very simple；〃 said Michaud。 〃Inclose the whole forest with
walls； like those of the park； and you will be safe； the slightest
depredation then becomes a criminal offence and is taken to the
assizes。〃
〃At a franc and a half the square foot for the material only； Monsieur
le comte would find his wall would cost him a third of the whole value
of Les Aigues；〃 said Sibilet； with a laugh。
〃Well； well；〃 said Montcornet； 〃I shall go and see the attorney…
general at once。〃
〃The attorney…general；〃 remarked Sibilet； gently； 〃may perhaps share
the opinion of his subordinate； for the negligence shown by the latter
is probably the result of an agreement between them。〃
〃Then I wish to know it！〃 cried Montcornet。 〃If I have to get the
whole of them turned out； judges； civil authorities； and the attorney…
general to boot； I'll do it； I'll go the Keeper of the Seals； or to
the king himself。〃
At a vehement sign made by Michaud the general stopped short and said
to Sibilet； as he turned to retrace his steps； 〃Good day； my dear
fellow；〃words which the steward understood。
〃Does Monsieur le comte intend； as mayor； to enforce the necessary
measures to repress the abuse of gleaning？〃 he said； respectfully。
〃The harvest is coming on； and if we are to publish the statutes about
certificates of pauperism and the prevention of paupers from other
districts gleaning our land； there is no time to be lost。〃
〃Do it at once； and arrange with Groison；〃 said the count。 〃With such
a class of people；〃 he added； 〃we must follow out the law。〃
So； without a moment's reflection； Montcornet gave in to a measure
that Sibilet had been proposing to him for more than a fortnight； to
which he had hitherto refused to consent； but now； in the violence of
anger caused by Vatel's mishap； he instantly adopted it as the right
thing to do。
When Sibilet was at some distance the general said in a low voice to
his bailiff：
〃Well； my dear Michaud； what is it； why did you make me that sign？〃
〃You have an enemy within the walls； general； yet you tell him plans
which you ought not to confide even to the secret police。〃
〃I share your suspicions； my dear friend；〃 replied Montcornet； 〃but I
don't intend to commit the same fault twice over。 I shall not part
with another steward till I'm sure of a better。 I am waiting to get
rid of Sibilet； till you understand the business of steward well
enough to take his place； and till Vatel is fit to succeed you。 And
yet； I have no ground of complaint against Sibilet。 He is honest and
punctual in all his dealings； he hasn't kept back a hundred francs in
all these five years。 He has a perfectly detestable nature； and that's
all one can say against him。 If it were otherwise； what would be his
plan in acting as he does？〃
〃General；〃 said Michaud； gravely； 〃I will find out； for undoubtedly he
has one； and if you would only allow it； a good bribe to that old
scoundrel Fourchon will enable me to get at the truth； though after
what he said just now I suspect the old fellow of having more secrets
than one in his pouch。 That swindling old cordwainer told me himself
they want to drive you from Les Aigues。 And let me tell you； for you
ought to know it； that from Conches to Ville…aux…Fayes there is not a
peasant； a petty tradesman； a farmer； a tavern…keeper who isn't laying
by his money to buy a bit of the estate。 Fourchon confided to me that
Tonsard has already put in his claim。 The idea that you can be forced
to sell Les