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Avonne； which brought him in a rental of thirty thousand francs； with
park and chateau and a controlling influence in its own canton。
Thus； in the upper regions of the State； in both Chambers； and in the
chief ministerial department； Gaubertin could rely on an influence
that was powerful and also active； and which he was careful not to
weary with unimportant requests。
The counsellor Gendrin； appointed judge by the Chamber； was the
leading spirit of the Supreme Court； for the chief justice； one of the
three ministerial deputies； left the management of it to Gendrin
during half the year。 The counsel for the Prefecture； a cousin of
Sarcus； called 〃Sarcus the rich；〃 was the right…hand man of the
prefect； himself a deputy。 Even without the family reasons which
allied Gaubertin and young des Lupeaulx； a brother of Madame Sarcus
would still have been desirable as sub…prefect to the arrondissement
of Ville…aux…Fayes。 Madame Sarcus； the counsellor's wife； was a Vallat
of Soulanges； a family connected with the Gaubertins； and she was said
to have 〃distinguished〃 the notary Lupin in her youth。 Though she was
now forty…five years old； with a son in the school of engineers； Lupin
never went to the Prefecture without paying his respects and dining
with her。
The nephew of Guerbet； the postmaster； whose father was； as we have
seen； collector of Soulanges； held the important situation of
examining judge in the municipal court of Ville…aux…Fayes。 The third
judge； son of Corbinet； the notary； belonged body and soul to the all…
powerful mayor； and； finally； young Vigor； son of the lieutenant of
the gendarmerie； was the substitute judge。
Sibilet's father； sheriff of the court； had married his sister to
Monsieur Vigor the lieutenant； and that individual； father of six
children； was cousin of the father of Gaubertin through his wife； a
Gaubertin…Vallat。 Eighteen months previously the united efforts of the
two deputies； Monsieur de Soulanges and Gaubertin； had created the
place of commissary of police for the sheriff's second son。
Sibilet's eldest daughter married Monsieur Herve； a school…master；
whose school was transformed into a college as a result of this
marriage； so that for the past year Soulanges had rejoiced in the
presence of a professor。
The sheriff's youngest son was employed on the government domains；
with the promise of succeeding the clerk of registrations so soon as
that officer had completed the term of service which enabled him to
retire on a pension。
The youngest Sibilet girl； now sixteen years old； was betrothed to
Corbinet； brother of the notary。 And an old maid； Mademoiselle
Gaubertin…Vallat； sister of Madame Sibilet； the sheriff's wife； held
the office for the sale of stamped paper。
Thus； wherever we turn in Ville…aux…Fayes we meet some member of the
invisible coalition； whose avowed chief； recognized as such by every
one； great and small； was the mayor of the town； the general agent for
the entire timber business； Gaubertin！
If we turn to the other end of the valley of the Avonne we shall see
that Gaubertin ruled at Soulanges through the Soudrys； through Lupin
the assistant mayor and steward of the Soulanges estate； who was
necessarily in constant communication with the Comte de Soulanges；
through Sarcus； justice of the peace； through Guerbet； the collector；
through Gourdon； the doctor； who had married a Gendrin…Vatebled。 He
governed Blangy through Rigou； Conches through the post…master； the
despotic ruler of his own district。
Gaubertin's influence was so great and powerful that even the
investments and the savings of Rigou； Soudry； Gendrin； Guerbet； Lupin；
even Sarcus the rich himself； were managed by his advice。 The town of
Ville…aux…Fayes believed implicitly in its mayor。 Gaubertin's ability
was not less extolled than his honesty and his kindness； he was the
servant of his relatives and constituents （always with an eye to a
return of benefits）； and the whole municipality adored him。 The town
never ceased to blame Monsieur Mariotte； of Auxerre； for having
opposed and thwarted that worthy Monsieur Gaubertin。
Not aware of their strength； no occasion for displaying it having
arisen； the bourgeoisie of Ville…aux…Fayes contented themselves with
boasting that no strangers intermeddled in their affairs and they
believed themselves excellent citizens and faithful public servants。
Nothing； however； escaped their despotic rule； which in itself was not
perceived； the result being considered a triumph of the locality。
The only stranger in this family community was the government engineer
in the highway department； and his dismissal in favor of the son of
Sarcus the rich was now being pressed； with a fair chance that this
one weak thread in the net would soon be strengthened。 And yet this
powerful league； which monopolized all duties both public and private；
sucked the resources of the region； and fastened on power like limpets
to a ship； escaped all notice so completely that General Montcornet
had no suspicion of it。 The prefect boasted of the prosperity of
Ville…aux…Fayes and its arrondissement； even the minister of the
interior was heard to remark： 〃There's a model sub…prefecture； which
runs on wheels； we should be lucky indeed if all were like it。〃 Family
designs were so involved with local interests that here； as in many
other little towns and even prefectures； a functionary who did not
belong to the place would have been forced to resign within a year。
When this despotic middle…class cousinry seizes a victim； he is so
carefully gagged and bound that complaint is impossible； he is smeared
with slime and wax like a snail in a beehive。 This invisible；
imperceptible tyranny is upheld by powerful reasons；such as the wish
to be surrounded by their own family； to keep property in their own
hands； the mutual help they ought to lend each other； the guarantees
given to the administration by the fact that their agent is under the
eyes of his fellow…citizens and neighbors。 What does all this lead to？
To the fact that local interests supersede all questions of public
interest； the centralized will of Paris is frequently overthrown in
the provinces； the truth of things is disguised； and country
communities snap their fingers at government。 In short； after the main
public necessities have been attended to； it will be seen that the
laws； instead of acting upon the masses； receive their impulse from
them； the populations adapt the law to themselves and not themselves
to the law。
Whoever has travelled in the south or west of France； or in Alsace； in
any other way than from inn to inn to see buildings and landscapes；
will surely admit the truth of these remarks。 The results of middle…
class nepotism may be； at present； merely isolated evils； but the
tendency of existing laws is to increase them。 This low…level
despotism can and will cause great disasters； and the events of the
drama