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pleasures；〃 it must not be supposed that Ville…aux…Fayes accepted this
supremacy。 The Gaubertin salon ridiculed （〃in petto〃） the salon
Soudry。 By the manner in which Gaubertin remarked； 〃We are a financial
community； engaged in actual business； we have the folly to fatigue
ourselves in making fortunes；〃 it was easy to perceive a latent
antagonism between the earth and the moon。 The moon believed herself
useful to the earth； and the earth governed the moon。 Earth and moon；
however； lived in the closest intimacy。 At the carnival the leading
society of Soulanges went in a body to four balls given by Gaubertin；
Gendrin； Leclercq； and Soudry； junior。 Every Sunday the latter； his
wife； Monsieur； Madame； and Mademoiselle Elise Gaubertin dined with
the Soudrys at Soulanges。 When the sub…prefect was invited； and when
the postmaster of Conches arrived to take pot…luck； Soulanges enjoyed
the sight of four official equipages drawn up at the door of the
Soudry mansion。
CHAPTER II
THE CONSPIRATORS IN THE QUEEN'S SALON
Reaching Soulanges about half…past five o'clock； Rigou was sure of
finding the usual party assembled at the Soudrys'。 There； as
everywhere else in town； the dinner…hour was three o'clock； according
to the custom of the last century。 From five to nine the notables of
Soulanges met in Madame Soudry's salon to exchange the news； make
their political speeches； comment upon the private lives of every one
in the valley； and talk about Les Aigues； which latter topic kept the
conversation going for at least an hour every day。 It was everybody's
business to learn at least something of what was going on； and also to
pay their court to the mistress of the house。
After this preliminary talk they played at boston； the only game the
queen understood。 When the fat old Guerbet had mimicked Madame Isaure；
Gaubertin's wife； laughed at her languishing airs； imitated her thin
voice； her pinched mouth； and her juvenile ways； when the Abbe Taupin
had related one of the tales of his repertory； when Lupin had told of
some event at Ville…aux…Fayes； and Madame Soudry had been deluged with
compliments ad nauseum； the company would say： 〃We have had a charming
game of boston。〃
Too self…indulgent to be at the trouble of driving over to the
Soudrys' merely to hear the vapid talk of its visitors and to see a
Parisian monkey in the guise of an old woman； Rigou； far superior in
intelligence and education to this petty society； never made his
appearance unless business brought him over to meet the notary。 He
excused himself from visiting on the ground of his occupations； his
habits； and his health； which latter did not allow him； he said； to
return at night along a road which led by the foggy banks of the
Thune。
The tall； stiff usurer always had an imposing effect upon Madame
Soudry's company； who instinctively recognized in his nature the
cruelty of the tiger with steel claws； the craft of a savage； the
wisdom of one born in a cloister and ripened by the sun of gold；a
man to whom Gaubertin had never yet been willing to fully commit
himself。
The moment the little green carriole and the bay horse passed the Cafe
de la Paix； Urbain； Soudry's man…servant； who was seated on a bench
under the dining…room windows； and was gossipping with the tavern…
keeper； shades his eyes with his hand to see who was coming。
〃It's Pere Rigou；〃 he said。 〃I must go round and open the door。 Take
his horse； Socquard。〃 And Urbain； a former trooper； who could not get
into the gendarmerie and had therefore taken service with Soudry； went
round the house to open the gates of the courtyard。
Socquard； a famous personage throughout the valley； was treated； as
you see； with very little ceremony by the valet。 But so it is with
many illustrious people who are so kind as to walk and to sneeze and
to sleep and to eat precisely like common mortals。
Socquard； born a Hercules； could carry a weight of eleven hundred
pounds； a blow of his fist applied on a man's back would break the
vertebral column in two； he could bend an iron bar； or hold back a
carriage drawn by one horse。 A Milo of Crotona in the valley； his fame
had spread throughout the department； where all sorts of foolish
stories were current about him； as about all celebrities。 It was told
how he had once carried a poor woman and her donkey and her basket on
his back to market； how he had been known to eat a whole ox and drink
the fourth of a hogshead of wine in one day； etc。 Gentle as a
marriageable girl； Socquard； who was a stout； short man； with a placid
face； broad shoulders； and a deep chest； where his lungs played like
the bellows of a forge； possessed a flute…like voice； the limpid tones
of which surprised all those who heard them for the first time。
Like Tonsard； whose renown released him from the necessity of giving
proofs of his ferocity； in fact； like all other men who are backed by
public opinion of one kind or another； Socquard never displayed his
extraordinary muscular force unless asked to do so by friends。 He now
took the horse as the usurer drew up at the steps of the portico。
〃Are you all well at home； Monsieur Rigou？〃 said the illustrious
innkeeper。
〃Pretty well； my good friend；〃 replied Rigou。 〃Do Plissoud and
Bonnebault and Viollet and Amaury still continue good customers？〃
This question； uttered in a tone of good…natured interest； was by no
means one of those empty speeches which superiors are apt to bestow
upon inferiors。 In his leisure moments Rigou thought over the smallest
details of 〃the affair；〃 and Fourchon had already warned him that
there was something suspicious in the intimacy between Plissoud；
Bonnebault； and the brigadier； Viollet。
Bonnebault； in payment of a few francs lost at cards； might very
likely tell the secrets he heard at Tonsard's to Viollet； or he might
let them out over his punch without realizing the importance of such
gossip。 But as the information of the old otter man might be
instigated by thirst； Rigou paid no attention except so far as it
concerned Plissoud； whose situation was likely to inspire him with a
desire to counteract the coalition against Les Aigues； if only to get
his paws greased by one or the other of the two parties。
Plissoud combined with his duties of under…sheriff other occupations
which were poorly remunerated； that of agent of insurance （a new form
of enterprise just beginning to show itself in France）； agent； also；
of a society providing against the chances of recruitment。 His
insufficient pay and a love of billiards and boiled wine made his
future doubtful。 Like Fourchon； he cultivated the art of doing
nothing； and expected his fortune through some lucky but problematic
chance。 He hated the leading society； but he had measured its power。
He alone knew the middle…class coalition organized by Gaubertin to its
depths； and he continued to sneer at the rich men of Soulanges and
Ville…aux