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his sons may go to law； and end by selling the lead and iron mines to
manufacturers； from whom we shall manage to get them back。〃
The chateau just then showed up in profile； as if to defy the ex…monk。
〃Ah！ look at it； in those days they built well；〃 cried Soudry。 〃But
just now Monsieur le Comte is economizing； so as to make Soulanges the
entailed estate of his peerage。〃
〃My dear friend；〃 said Rigou； 〃entailed estates won't exist much
longer。〃
When the topic of public matters was exhausted； the worthy pair began
to discuss the merits of their pretty maids in terms too Burgundian to
be printed here。 That inexhaustible subject carried them so far that
before they knew it they saw the capital of the arrondissement over
which Gaubertin reigned； and which we hope excites enough curiosity in
the reader's mind to justify a short digression。
The name of Ville…aux…Fayes； singular as it is； is explained as the
corruption of the words （in low Latin） 〃Villa in Fago；〃the manor of
the woods。 This name indicates that a forest once covered the delta
formed by the Avonne before it joins its confluent the Yonne。 Some
Frank doubtless built a fortress on the hill which slopes gently to
the long plain。 The savage conqueror separated his vantage…ground from
the delta by a wide and deep moat and made the position a formidable
one； essentially seignorial； convenient for enforcing tolls across the
bridges and for protecting his rights of profit on all grains ground
in the mills。
That is the history of the beginning of Ville…aux…Fayes。 Wherever
feudal or ecclesiastical dominion established there we find gathered
together interests； inhabitants； and； later； towns when the localities
were in a position to maintain them and to found and develop great
industries。 The method of floating timber discovered by Jean Rouvet in
1549； which required certain convenient stations to intercept it； was
the making of Ville…aux…Fayes； which； up to that time； had been；
compared to Soulanges； a mere village。 Ville…aux…Fayes became a
storage place for timber； which covered the shores of the two rivers
for a distance of over thirty miles。 The work of taking out of the
water； computing the lost logs； and making the rafts which the Yonne
carried down to the Seine； brought together a large concourse of
workmen。 Such a population increased consumption and encouraged trade。
Thus Ville…aux…Fayes； which had but six hundred inhabitants at the end
of the seventeenth century； had two thousand in 1790； and Gaubertin
had now raised the number to four thousand； by the following means。
When the legislative assembly decreed the new laying out of territory；
Ville…aux…Fayes； which was situated where； geographically； a sub…
prefecture was needed； was chosen instead of Soulanges as chief town
or capital of the arrondissement。 The increased population of Paris；
by increasing the demand for and the value of wood as fuel；
necessarily increased the commerce of Ville…aux…Fayes。 Gaubertin had
founded his fortune； after losing his stewardship； on this growing
business； estimating the effect of peace on the population of Paris；
which did actually increase by over one…third between 1815 and 1825。
The shape of Ville…aux…Fayes followed the conformation of the ground。
Each side of the promontory was lined with wharves。 The dam to stop
the timber from floating further down was just below a hill covered by
the forest of Soulanges。 Between the dam and the town lay a suburb。
The lower town； covering the greater part of the delta； came down to
the shores of the lake of the Avonne。
Above the lower town some five hundred houses with gardens； standing
on the heights； were grouped round three sides of the promontory； and
enjoyed the varied scene of the diamond waters of the lake； the rafts
in construction along its edge； and the piles of wood upon the shores。
The waters； laden with timber from the river and the rapids which fed
the mill…races and the sluices of a few manufactories； presented an
animated scene； all the more charming because inclosed in the greenery
of forests； while the long valley of Les Aigues offered a glorious
contrast to the dark foil of the heights above the town itself。
Gaubertin had built himself a house on the level of the delta；
intending to make a place which should improve the locality and render
the lower town as desirable as the upper。 It was a modern house built
of stone； with a balcony of iron railings； outside blinds； painted
windows； and no ornament but a line of fret…work under the eaves； a
slate roof； one story in height with a garret； a fine courtyard； and
behind it an English garden bathed by the waters of the Avonne。 The
elegance of the place compelled the department to build a fine edifice
nearly opposite to it for the sub…prefecture； provisionally lodged in
a mere kennel。 The town itself also built a town…hall。 The law…courts
had lately been installed in a new edifice； so that Ville…aux…Fayes
owed to the active influence of its present mayor a number of really
imposing public buildings。 The gendarmerie had also built barracks
which completed the square formed by the marketplace。
These changes； on which the inhabitants prided themselves； were due to
the impetus given by Gaubertin； who within a day or two had received
the cross of the Legion of honor； in anticipation of the coming
birthday of the king。 In a town so situated and so modern there was of
course； neither aristocracy nor nobility。 Consequently； the rich
merchants of Ville…aux…Fayes； proud of their own independence；
willingly espoused the cause of the peasantry against a count of the
Empire who had taken sides with the Restoration。 To them the
oppressors were the oppressed。 The spirit of this commercial town was
so well known to the government that they send there as sub…prefect a
man with a conciliatory temper； a pupil of his uncle； the well…known
des Lupeaulx； one of those men； accustomed to compromise； who are
familiar with the difficulties and necessities of administration； but
whom puritan politicians； doing infinitely worse things； call corrupt。
The interior of Gaubertin's house was decorated with the unmeaning
commonplaces of modern luxury。 Rich papers with gold borders； bronze
chandeliers； mahogany furniture of a new pattern； astral lamps； round
tables with marble tops； white china with gilt lines for dessert； red
morocco chairs and mezzo…tint engravings in the dining…room； and blue
cashmere furniture in the salon；all details of a chilling and
perfectly unmeaning character； but which to the eyes of Ville…aux…
Fayes seemed the last efforts of Sardanapalian luxury。 Madame
Gaubertin played the role of elegance with great effect； she assumed
little airs and was lackadaisical at forty…five years of age； as
though certain of the homage of her court。
We ask those who really know France； if these housesthose of Rigou；
Soudry； and Gaubertinare not a perfect prese