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The silver had been given to Mademoiselle Laguerre by Bouret。 It was a
magnificent service made by the famous Germain； and Madame Soudry had
literally stolen it。 At Mademoiselle Laguerre's death she merely took
it into her own room； and the heirs； who knew nothing of the value of
their inheritance； never claimed it。
For some time past the twelve or fifteen personages who composed the
leading society of Soulanges spoke of Madame Soudry as the INTIMATE
FRIEND of Mademoiselle Laguerre； recoiling at the term 〃waiting…
woman；〃 and making believe that she had sacrificed herself to the
singer as her friend and companion。
Strange yet true！ all these illusions became realities； and spread
even to the actual regions of the heart； Madame Soudry reigned
supreme； in a way； over her husband。
The gendarme； required to love a woman ten years older than himself
who kept the management of her fortune in her own hands； behaved to
her in the spirit of the ideas she had ended by adopting about her
beauty。 But sometimes； when persons envied him or talked to him of his
happiness； he wished they were in his place； for； to hide his
peccadilloes； he was forced to take as many precautions as the husband
of a young and adoring wife； and it was not until very recently that
he had been able to introduce into the family a pretty servant…girl。
This portrait of the Queen of Soulanges may seem a little grotesque；
but many specimens of the same kind could be found in the provinces at
that period；some more or less noble in blood； others belonging to
the higher banking…circles； like the widow of a receiver…general in
Touraine who still puts slices of veal upon her cheeks。 This portrait；
drawn from nature； would be incomplete without the diamonds in which
it is set； without the surrounding courtiers； a sketch of whom is
necessary； if only to explain how formidable such Lilliputians are；
and who are the makers of public opinion in remote little towns。 Let
no one mistake me； however； there are many localities which； like
Soulanges； are neither hamlets； villages； nor little towns； which
have； nevertheless； the characteristics of all。 The inhabitants are
very different from those of the large and busy and vicious provincial
cities。 Country life influences the manners and morals of the smaller
places； and this mixture of tints will be found to produce some truly
original characters。
The most important personage after Madame Soudry was Lupin； the
notary。 Though forty…five springs had bloomed for Lupin； he was still
fresh and rosy； thanks to the plumpness which fills out the skin of
sedentary persons； and he still sang ballads。 Also； he retained the
elegant evening dress of society warblers。 He looked almost Parisian
in his carefully…varnished boots； his sulphur…yellow waistcoats； his
tight…fitting coats； his handsome silk cravats； his fashionable
trousers。 His hair was curled by the barber of Soulanges （the gossip
of the town）； and he maintained the attitude of a man 〃a bonne
fortunes〃 by his liaison with Madame Sarcus； wife of Sarcus the rich；
who was to his life； without too close a comparison； what the
campaigns of Italy were to Napoleon。 He alone of the leading society
of Soulanges went to Paris； where he was received by the Soulanges
family。 It was enough to hear him talk to imagine the supremacy he
wielded in his capacity as dandy and judge of elegance。 He passed
judgment on all things by the use of three terms： 〃out of date；〃
〃antiquated；〃 〃superannuated。〃＇*＇ A man； a woman； or a piece of
furniture might be 〃out of date〃； next； by a greater degree of
imperfection； 〃antiquated〃； but as to the last term； it was the
superlative of contempt。 The first might be remedied； the second was
hopeless； but the third；oh； better far never to have left the void
of nothingness！ As to praise； a single word sufficed him； doubly and
trebly uttered： 〃Charming！〃 was the positive of his admiration。
〃Charming； charming！〃 made you feel you were safe； but after
〃Charming； charming； charming！〃 the ladder might be discarded； for the
heaven of perfection was attained。
＇*＇ 〃Croute；〃 〃crouton；〃 and 〃croute…au…pot；〃 untranslatable； and
without equivalent in English。 A 〃croute〃 is the slang term for a
man behind the age。Tr。
The tabellion；he called himself 〃tabellion；〃 petty notary； and
keeper of notes （making fun of his calling in order to seem above it）；
the tabellion was on terms of spoken gallantry with Madame Soudry；
who had a weakness for Lupin； though he was blond and wore spectacles。
Hitherto the late Cochet had loved none but dark men； with moustachios
and hairy hands； of the Alcides type。 But she made an exception in
favor of Lupin on account of his elegance； and； moreover； because she
thought her glory at Soulanges was not complete without an adorer；
but； to Soudry's despair； the queen's adorers never carried their
adoration so far as to threaten his rights。
Lupin had married an heiress in wooden shoes and blue woollen
stockings； the only daughter of a salt…dealer； who made his money
during the Revolution；a period when contraband salt…traders made
enormous profits by reason of the reaction that set in against the
gabelle。 He prudently left his wife at home； where Bebelle； as he
called her； was supported under his absence by a platonic passion for
a handsome clerk who had no other means than his salary；a young man
named Bonnac； belonging to the second…class society； where he played
the same role that his master； the notary； played in the first。
Madame Lupin； a woman without any education whatever； appeared on
great occasions only； under the form of an enormous Burgundian barrel
dressed in velvet and surmounted by a little head sunken in shoulders
of a questionable color。 No efforts could retain her waist…belt in its
natural place。 〃Bebelle〃 candidly admitted that prudence forbade her
wearing corsets。 The imagination of a poet or； better still； that of
an inventor； could not have found on Bebelle's back the slightest
trace of that seductive sinuosity which the vertebrae of all women who
are women usually produce。 Bebelle； round as a tortoise； belonged to
the genus of invertebrate females。 This alarming development of
cellular tissue no doubt reassured Lupin on the subject of the
platonic passion of his fat wife； whom he boldly called Bebelle
without raising a laugh。
〃Your wife； what is she？〃 said Sarcus the rich； one day； when unable
to digest the fatal word 〃superannuated；〃 applied to a piece of
furniture he had just bought at a bargain。
〃My wife is not like yours；〃 replied Lupin； 〃she is not defined as
yet。〃
Beneath his rosy exterior the notary possessed a subtle mind； and he
had the sense to say nothing about his property； which was fully as
large as that of Rigou。
Monsieur Lupin's son； Amaury； was a great trouble to his father。 An
only son； and one of the Don Juans of the valley； he utterly refused
to fo