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despotism can and will cause great disasters； and the events of the
drama about to be played in the valley of Les Aigues will prove it。
The monarchical and imperial systems； more rashly overthrown than
people realize； remedied these abuses by means of certain consecrated
lives； by classifications and categories and by those particular
counterpoises since so absurdly defined as 〃privileges。〃 There are no
privileges now； when every human being is free to climb the greased
pole of power。 But surely it would be safer to allow open and avowed
privileges than those which are underhand； based on trickery；
subversive of what should be public spirit； and continuing the work of
despotism to a lower and baser level than heretofore。 May we not have
overthrown noble tyrants devoted to their country's good； to create
the tyranny of selfish interests？ Shall power lurk in secret places；
instead of radiating from its natural source？ This is worth thinking
about。 The spirit of local sectionalism； such as we have now depicted；
will soon be seen to invade the Chamber。
Montcornet's friend； the late prefect； Comte de la Roche…Hugon； had
lost his position just before the last arrival of the general at Les
Aigues。 This dismissal drove him into the ranks of the Liberal
opposition； where he became one of the chorus of the Left； a position
he soon after abandoned for an embassy。 His successor； luckily for
Montcornet； was a son…in…law of the Marquis de Troisville； uncle of
the countess； the Comte de Casteran。 He welcomed Montcornet as a
relation and begged him to continue his intimacy at the Prefecture。
After listening to the general's complaints the Comte de Casteran
invited the bishop； the attorney…general； the colonel of the
gendarmerie； counsellor Sarcus； and the general commanding the
division to meet him the next day at breakfast。
The attorney…general； Baron Bourlac （so famous in the Chanterie and
Rifael suits）； was one of those men well…known to all governments； who
attach themselves to power； no matter in whose hands it is； and who
make themselves invaluable by such devotion。 Having owed his elevation
in the first place to his fanaticism for the Emperor； he now owed the
retention of his official rank to his inflexible character and the
conscientiousness with which he fulfilled his duties。 He who once
implacably prosecuted the remnant of the Chouans now prosecuted the
Bonapartists as implacably。 But years and turmoils had somewhat
subdued his energy and he had now become； like other old devils
incarnate； perfectly charming in manner and ways。
The general explained his position and the fears of his bailiff； and
spoke of the necessity of making an example and enforcing the rights
of property。
The high functionaries listened gravely； making； however； no reply
beyond mere platitudes； such as； 〃Undoubtedly； the laws must be
upheld〃； 〃Your cause is that of all land…owners〃； 〃We will consider
it； but； situated as we are； prudence is very necessary〃； 〃A monarchy
could certainly do more for the people than the people would do for
itself； even if it were； as in 1793； the sovereign people〃； 〃The
masses suffer； and we are bound to do as much for them as for
ourselves。〃
The relentless attorney…general expressed such kindly and benevolent
views respecting the condition of the lower classes that our future
Utopians； had they heard him； might have thought that the higher grade
of government officials were already aware of the difficulties of that
problem which modern society will be forced to solve。
It may be well to say here that at this period of the Restoration；
various bloody encounters had taken place in remote parts of the
kingdom； caused by this very question of the pillage of woods； and the
marauding rights which the peasants were everywhere arrogating to
themselves。 Neither the government nor the court liked these
outbreaks； nor the shedding of blood which resulted from repression。
Though they felt the necessity of rigorous measures； they nevertheless
treated as blunderers the officials who were compelled to employ them；
and dismissed them on the first pretence。 The prefects were therefore
anxious to shuffle out of such difficulties whenever possible。
At the very beginning of the conversation Sarcus （the rich） had made a
sign to the prefect and the attorney…general which Montcornet did not
see； but which set the tone of the discussion。 The attorney…general
was well aware of the state of mind of the inhabitants of the valley
des Aigues through his subordinate； Soudry the young attorney。
〃I foresee a terrible struggle；〃 the latter had said to him。 〃They
mean to kill the gendarmes； my spies tell me so。 It will be very hard
to convict them for it。 The instant the jury feel they are incurring
the hatred of the friends of the twenty or thirty prisoners； they will
not sustain us；we could not get them to convict for death； nor even
for the galleys。 Possibly by prosecuting in person you might get a few
years' imprisonment for the actual murderers。 Better shut our eyes
than open them； if by opening them we bring on a collision which costs
bloodshed and several thousand francs to the State；not to speak of
the cost of keeping the guilty in prison。 It is too high a price to
pay for a victory which will only reveal our judicial weakness to the
eyes of all。〃
Montcornet； who was wholly without suspicion of the strength and
influence of the Mediocracy in his happy valley； did not even mention
Gaubertin； whose hand kept these embers of opposition always alive；
though smouldering。 After breakfast the attorney…general took
Montcornet by the arm and led him to the Prefect's study。 When the
general left that room after their conference； he wrote to his wife
that he was starting for Paris and should be absent a week。 We shall
see； after the execution of certain measures suggested by Baron
Bourlac； the attorney…general； whether the secret advice he gave to
Montcornet was wise； and whether in conforming to it the count and Les
Aigues were enabled to escape the 〃Evil grudge。〃
Some minds； eager for mere amusement； will complain that these various
explanations are far too long； but we once more call attention to the
fact that the historian of the manners； customs； and morals of his
time must obey a law far more stringent than that imposed on the
historian of mere facts。 He must show the probability of everything；
even the truth； whereas； in the domain of history； properly so…called；
the impossible must be accepted for the sole reason that it did
happen。 The vicissitudes of social or private life are brought about
by a crowd of little causes derived from a thousand conditions。 The
man of science is forced to clear away the avalanche under which whole
villages lie buried； to show you the pebbles brought down from the
summit which alone can determine the formation of the mountain。 If the
historian of human life were simply telling you