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〃I'm willing；〃 said Rigou。
〃Well； now； between ourselves；〃 continued Gaubertin； after looking
about him on all sides and making sure that no one could overhear him；
〃do you think they are capable of striking a blow？〃
〃Such as？〃 asked Rigou； who never allowed himself to understand a
hint。
〃Well； if the worst of the band； the best shot； sent a ball whistling
round the ears of the countjust to frighten him？〃
〃He's a man to rush at an assailant and collar him。〃
〃Michaud； then。〃
〃Michaud would do nothing at the moment； but he'd watch and spy till
he found out the man and those who instigated him。〃
〃You are right；〃 said Gaubertin； 〃those peasants must make a riot and
a few must be sent to the galleys。 Well； so much the better for us；
the authorities will catch the worst； whom we shall want to get rid of
after they've done the work。 There are those blackguards； the Tonsards
and Bonnebault〃
〃Tonsard is ready for mischief；〃 said Soudry； 〃I know that； and we'll
work him up by Vaudoyer and Courtecuisse。〃
〃I'll answer for Courtecuisse；〃 said Rigou。
〃And I hold Vaudoyer in the hollow of my hand。〃
〃Be cautious！〃 said Rigou； 〃before everything else be cautious。〃
〃Now； papa skull…cap； do you mean to tell me that there's any harm in
speaking of things as they are？ Is it we who are indicting and
arresting； or gleaning or depredating？ If Monsieur le comte knows what
he's about and leases the woods to the receiver…general it is all up
with our schemes；'Farewell baskets； the vintage is o'er'； in that
case you will lose more than I。 What we say here is between ourselves
and for ourselves； for I certainly wouldn't say a word to Vaudoyer
that I couldn't repeat to God and man。 But it is not forbidden； I
suppose； to profit by any events that may take place。 The peasantry of
this canton are hot…headed； the general's exactions； his severity；
Michaud's persecutions； and those of his keepers have exasperated
them； to…day things have come to a crisis and I'll bet there's a
rumpus going on now with the gendarmerie。 And so； let's go and
breakfast。〃
Madame Gaubertin came into the garden just then。 She was a rather fair
woman with long curls； called English； hanging down her cheeks； who
played the style of sentimental virtue； pretended never to have known
love； talked platonics to all the men about her； and kept the
prosecuting…attorney at her beck and call。 She was given to caps with
large bows； but preferred to wear only her hair。 She danced； and at
forty…five years of age had the mincing manner of a girl； her feet；
however； were large and her hands frightful。 She wished to be called
Isaure； because among her other oddities and absurdities she had the
taste to repudiate the name of Gaubertin as vulgar。 Her eyes were
light and her hair of an undecided color； something like dirty
nankeen。 Such as she was； she was taken as a model by a number of
young ladies； who stabbed the skies with their glances； and posed as
angels。
〃Well； gentlemen；〃 she said； bowing； 〃I have some strange news for
you。 The gendarmerie have returned。〃
〃Did they make any prisoners？〃
〃None； the general； it seems； had previously obtained the pardon of
the depredators。 It was given in honor of this happy anniversary of
the king's restoration to France。〃
The three associates looked at each other。
〃He is cleverer than I thought for； that big cuirassier！〃 said
Gaubertin。 〃Well； come to breakfast。 After all； the game is not lost；
only postponed； it is your affair now； Rigou。〃
Soudry and Rigou drove back disappointed； not being able as yet to
plan any other catastrophe to serve their ends and relying； as
Gaubertin advised； on what might turn up。 Like certain Jacobins at the
outset of the Revolution who were furious with Louis XVI。's
conciliations； and who provoked severe measures at court in the hope
of producing anarchy； which to them meant fortune and power； the
formidable enemies of General Montcornet staked their present hopes on
the severity which Michaud and his keepers were likely to employ
against future depredators。 Gaubertin promised them his assistance；
without explaining who were his co…operators； for he did not wish them
to know about his relations with Sibilet。 Nothing can equal the
prudence of a man of Gaubertin's stamp； unless it be that of an ex…
gendarme or an unfrocked priest。 This plot could not have been brought
to a successful issue；a successfully evil issue；unless by three
such men as these； steeped in hatred and self…interest。
CHAPTER V
VICTORY WITHOUT A FIGHT
Madame Michaud's fears were the effect of that second sight which
comes of true passion。 Exclusively absorbed by one only being； the
soul finally grasps the whole moral world which surrounds that being；
it sees clearly。 A woman when she loves feels the same presentiments
which disquiet her later when a mother。
While the poor young woman listened to the confused voices coming from
afar across an unknown space； a scene was really happening in the
tavern of the Grand…I…Vert which threatened her husband's life。
About five o'clock that morning early risers had seen the gendarmerie
of Soulanges on its way to Conches。 The news circulated rapidly； and
those whom it chiefly interested were much surprised to learn from
others； who lived on high ground； that a detachment commanded by the
lieutenant of Ville…aux…Fayes had marched through the forest of Les
Aigues。 As it was a Monday； there were already good reasons why the
peasants should be at the tavern； but it was also the eve of the
anniversary of the restoration of the Bourbons； and though the
frequenters of Tonsard's den had no need of that 〃august cause〃 （as
they said in those days） to explain their presence at the Grand…I…
Vert； they did not fail to make the most of it if the mere shadow of
an official functionary appeared。
Vaudoyer； Courtecuisse； Tonsard and his family； Godain； and an old
vine…dresser named Laroche； were there early in the morning。 The
latter was a man who scratched a living from day to day； he was one of
the delinquents collected in Blangy under the sort of subscription
invented by Sibilet and Courtecuisse to disgust the general by the
results of his indictments。 Blangy had supplied three men； twelve
women； also eight girls and five boys for whom parent were answerable；
all of whom were in a condition of pauperism； but they were the only
ones who could be found that were so。 The year 1823 had been a very
profitable one to the peasantry； and 1826 as likely； through the
enormous quantity of wine yielded； to bring them in a good deal of
money； add to this the works at Les Aigues； undertaken by the general；
which had put a great deal more in circulation throughout the three
districts which bordered on the estate。 It had therefore been quite
difficult to find in Blangy； Conches； and Cerneux； one hundred and
twenty indigent