sons of the soil-第12章

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isn't　the　trees；　it's　ground。〃



〃Don't　you　trust　to　that；〃　said　Fourchon　to　his　son…in…law；　〃you　own

property。〃



〃Those　rich　folks　must　love　you；〃　continued　Vermichel；　〃for　they　think

of　nothing　else　from　morning　till　night！　They　are　saying　to　themselves

now　like　this：　'Their　cattle　eat　up　our　pastures；　we'll　seize　their

cattle；　they　can't　eat　grass　themselves。'　You've　all　been　condemned；

the　warrants　are　out；　and　they　have　told　our　ape　to　take　your　cows。　We

are　to　begin　this　morning　at　Conches　by　seizing　old　mother

Bonnebault's　cow　and　Godin's　cow　and　Mitant's　cow。〃



The　moment　the　name　of　Bonnebault　was　mentioned；　Marie；　who　was　in

love　with　the　old　woman's　grandson；　sprang　into　the　vineyard　with　a

nod　to　her　father　and　mother。　She　slipped　like　an　eel　through　a　break

in　the　hedge；　and　was　off　on　the　way　to　Conches　with　the　speed　of　a

hunted　hare。



〃They'll　do　so　much；〃　remarked　Tonsard；　tranquilly；　〃that　they'll　get

their　bones　broken；　and　that　will　be　a　pity；　for　their　mothers　can't

make　them　any　new　ones。〃



〃Well；　perhaps　so；〃　said　old　Fourchon；　〃but　see　here；　Vermichel；　I

can't　go　with　you　for　an　hour　or　more；　for　I　have　important　business

at　the　chateau。〃



〃More　important　than　serving　three　warrants　at　five　sous　each？　'You

shouldn't　spit　into　the　vintage；'　as　Father　Noah　says。〃



〃I　tell　you；　Vermichel；　that　my　business　requires　me　to　go　to　the

chateau　des　Aigues；〃　repeated　the　old　man；　with　an　air　of　laughable

self…importance。



〃And　anyhow；〃　said　Mam　Tonsard；　〃my　father　had　better　keep　out　of　the

way。　Do　you　really　mean　to　find　the　cows？〃



〃Monsieur　Brunet；　who　is　a　very　good　fellow；　would　much　rather　find

nothing　but　their　dung；〃　answered　Vermichel。　〃A　man　who　is　obliged　to

be　out　and　about　day　and　night　had　better　be　careful。〃



〃If　he　is；　he　has　good　reason　to　be；〃　said　Tonsard；　sententiously。



〃So；〃　continued　Vermichel；　〃he　said　to　Monsieur　Michaud；　'I'll　go　as

soon　as　the　court　is　up。'　If　he　had　wanted　to　find　the　cows　he'd　have

gone　at　seven　o'clock　in　the　morning。　But　that　didn't　suit　Michaud；

and　Brunet　has　had　to　be　off。　You　can't　take　in　Michaud；　he's　a

trained　hound！　Ha；　the　brigand！〃



〃Ought　to　have　stayed　in　the　army；　a　swaggerer　like　that；〃　said

Tonsard；　〃he　is　only　fit　to　deal　with　enemies。　I　wish　he　would　come

and　ask　me　my　name。　He　may　call　himself　a　veteran　of　the　young　guard；

but　I　know　very　well　that　if　I　measured　spurs　with　him；　I'd　keep　my

feathers　up　longest。〃



〃Look　here！〃　said　Mam　Tonsard　to　Vermichel；　〃when　are　the　notices　for

the　ball　at　Soulanges　coming　out？　Here　it　is　the　eighth　of　August。〃



〃I　took　them　yesterday　to　Monsieur　Bournier　at　Ville…aux…Fayes；　to　be

printed；〃　replied　Vermichel；　〃they　do　talk　of　fireworks　on　the　lake。〃



〃What　crowds　of　people　we　shall　have！〃　cried　Fourchon。



〃Profits　for　Socquard！〃　said　Tonsard；　spitefully。



〃If　it　doesn't　rain；〃　said　his　wife；　by　way　of　comfort。



At　this　moment　the　trot　of　a　horse　coming　from　the　direction　of

Soulanges　was　heard；　and　five　minutes　later　the　sheriff's　officer

fastened　his　horse　to　a　post　placed　for　the　purpose　near　the　wicket

gate　through　which　the　cows　were　driven。　Then　he　showed　his　head　at

the　door　of　the　Grand…I…Vert。



〃Come；　my　boys；　let's　lose　no　time；〃　he　said；　pretending　to　be　in　a

hurry。



〃Hey！〃　said　Vermichel。　〃Here's　a　refractory；　Monsieur　Brunet；　Pere

Fourchon　wants　to　drop　off。〃



〃He　has　had　too　many　drops　already；〃　said　the　sheriff；　〃but　the　law　in

this　case　does　not　require　that　he　shall　be　sober。〃



〃Please　excuse　me；　Monsieur　Brunet；〃　said　Fourchon；　〃I　am　expected　at

Les　Aigues　on　business；　they　are　in　treaty　for　an　otter。〃



Brunet；　a　withered　little　man　dressed　from　head　to　foot　in　black

cloth；　with　a　bilious　skin；　a　furtive　eye；　curly　hair；　lips　tight…

drawn；　pinched　nose；　anxious　expression；　and　gruff　in　speech；

exhibited　the　phenomenon　of　a　character　and　bearing　in　perfect　harmony

with　his　profession。　He　was　so　well…informed　as　to　the　law；　or；　to

speak　more　correctly；　the　quibbles　of　the　law；　that　he　had　come　to　be

both　the　terror　and　the　counsellor　of　the　whole　canton。　He　was　not

without　a　certain　popularity　among　the　peasantry；　from　whom　he　usually

took　his　pay　in　kind。　The　compound　of　his　active　and　negative

qualities　and　his　knowledge　of　how　to　manage　matters　got　him　the

custom　of　the　canton；　to　the　exclusion　of　his　coadjutor　Plissoud；

about　whom　we　shall　have　something　to　say　later。　This　chance

combination　of　a　sheriff's　officer　who　does　everything　and　a　sheriff's

officer　who　does　nothing　is　not　at　all　uncommon　in　the　country　justice

courts。



〃So　matters　are　getting　warm；　are　they？〃　said　Tonsard　to　little

Brunet。



〃What　can　you　expect？　you　pilfer　the　man　too　much；　and　he's　going　to

protect　himself；〃　replied　the　officer。　〃It　will　be　a　bad　business　for

you　in　the　end；　government　will　interfere。〃



〃Then　we；　poor　unfortunates；　must　give　up　the　ghost！〃　said　Mam

Tonsard；　offering　him　a　glass　of　brandy　on　a　saucer。



〃The　unfortunate　may　all　die；　yet　they'll　never　be　lacking　in　the

land；〃　said　Fourchon；　sententiously。



〃You　do　great　damage　to　the　woods；〃　retorted　the　sheriff。



〃Now　don't　believe　that；　Monsieur　Brunet；〃　said　Mam　Tonsard；　〃they

make　such　a　fuss　about　a　few　miserable　fagots！〃



〃We　didn't　crush　the　rich　low　enough　during　the　Revolution；　that's

what's　the　trouble；〃　said　Tonsard。



Just　then　a　horrible；　and　quite　incomprehensible　noise　was　heard。　It

seemed　to　be　a　rush　of　hurried　feet；　accompanied　with　a　rattle　of

arms；　half…drowned　by　the　rustling　of　leaves；　the　dragging　of

branches；　and　the　sound　of　still　more　hasty　feet。　Two　voices；　as

different　as　the　two　footsteps；　were　venting　noisy　exclamations。

Everybody　inside　the　inn　guessed　at　once　that　a　man　was　pursuing　a

woman；　but　why？　The　uncertainty　did　not　last　long。



〃It　is　mother！〃　said　Tonsard；　jumping　up；　〃I　know　her　shriek。〃



Then　suddenly；　rushing　up　the　broken　steps　of　the　Grand…I…Vert　by　a

last　effort　that　can　be　made　only　by　the　sinews　of　smugglers；　old

Mother　Tonsard　fell　flat　on　the　floor　in　the　middle　of　the　room。　The

immense　mass　of　wood　she　carried　on　her　head　made　a　terrible　noise　as

it　crashed　against　the　top　of　the　door　and　then　upon　the　ground。　Every

one　had　jumped　out　of　the　way。　The　table；　the　bottles；　the　chairs　were

knocked　over　and　scattered。　The　noise　was　as　great　as　if　the　cottage

itself　had　come　tumbling　down。



〃I'm　dead！　The　scoundrel　has　killed　me！〃



The　words　and　the　flight　of　the　old　woman　were　explained　by　the

apparition　on　the　threshold　of　a　keeper；　dressed　in　green　livery；

wearing　a　hat　edged　with　silver　cord；　a　sabre　at　his　side；　a　leathern

shoulder…belt　bearing　the　arms　of　Montcornet　charged　with　those　of　the

Troisvilles；　the　regulation　red　waistcoat；　and　buckskin　gaiters　which

came　above　the　knee。



After　a　moment's　hesitation　the　keeper　said；　looking　at　Brunet　and

Vermichel；　〃Here　are　witnesses。〃



〃Witnesses　of　what？〃　said　Tonsard。



〃That　woman　has　a　ten…year…old　oak；　cut　into　logs；　inside　those

fagots；　it　is　a　regular　crime！〃



The　moment　the　word　〃witness〃　was　uttered　Vermichel　thought　best　to

breathe　the　fresh　air　of　the　vineyard。



〃Of　what？　witnesses　of　what？〃　cried　Tonsard；　standing　in　front　of　the

keeper　while　his　wife　helped　up　the　old　woman。　〃Do　you　mean　to　show

your　claws；　Vatel？　Accuse　persons　and　arrest　them　on　the　highway；

brigand；that's　your　domain；　but　get　out　of　here！　A　man's　house　is

his　castle。〃



〃I　caught　her　in　the　act；　and　your　mother　must　come　with　me。〃



〃Arrest　my　mother　in　my　house？　You　have　no　right　to　do　it。　My　house　is

inviolable；all　the　world　knows　that；　at　least。　Have　you　got　a

warrant　from　Monsieur　Guerbet；　the　magistrate？　Ha！　you　must　have　the

law　behind　you　before　you　come　in　here。　You　are　not　the　law；　though

you　have　sworn　an　oath　to　starve　us　to　death；　you　miserable　forest…

gauger；　you！〃



The　fury　of　the　keeper　waxed　so　hot　that　he　was　on　the　point　of

seizing　hold　of　the　wood；　when　the　old　woman；　a　frightful　bit　of　black

parchment　endowed　with　motion；　the　like　of　which　can　be　seen　only　in

David's　picture　of　〃The　Sabines；〃　screamed　at　him；　〃Don't　touch　it；　or

I'll　fly　at　your　eyes！〃



〃Well；　then；　undo　that　pile　in　presence　of　Monsieur　Brunet；〃　said　the

keeper。



Though　the　sheriff's　officer　had　assumed　the　indifference　that　the

routine　of　business　does　really　give　to　officials　of　his　class；　he

threw　a　glance　at　Tonsard　and　his　wife　which　said　plainly；　〃A　bad

business！〃　Old　Fourchon　looked　at　his　daughter；　and　slyly　pointed　at　a

pile　of　ashes　in　the　chimney。　Mam　Tonsard；　who　understood　in　a　moment

from　that　significant　gesture　both　the　danger　of　her　mother…in…law　and

the　advice　of　her　father；　seized　a　handful　of　ashes　and　flung　them　in

the　keeper's　eyes。　Vatel　roared　with　pain；　Tonsard　pushed　him　roughly

upon　the　broken　door…steps　where　the　blinded　man　stumbled　and　fell；

and　then　rolled　nearly　down　to　the　gate；　dropping　his　gun　on　the　way。

In　an　instant　the　load　of　sticks　was　unfastened；　and　the　oak　logs

pulled　out　and　hidden　with　a　rapidity　no　words　can　describe。　Brunet；

anxious　not　to　witness　this　manoeuvre；　which　he　readily　foresaw；

rushed　after　the　keeper　to　help　him　up；　then　he　placed　him　on　the　bank

and　wet　his　handkerchief　in　water　to　wash　the　eyes　of　the　poor　fellow；

who；　in　spite　of　his　agony；　was　trying　to　reach　the　brook。



〃You　are　in　the　wrong；　Vatel；〃　said　Brunet；　〃you　have　no　right　to

enter　houses；　don't　you　see？〃



The　old　woman；　a　little　hump…backed　creature；　stood　on　the　sill　of　the

door；　with　her　hands　on　her　hips；　darting　flashes　from　her　eyes　and

curses　from　her　foaming　lips　shrill　enough　to　be　heard　at　Blangy。



〃Ha！　the　villain；　'twas　well　done！　May　hell　get　you！　To　suspect　me　of

cutting　trees！ME；　the　most　honest　woman　in　the　village。　To　hunt　me

like　vermin！　I'd　like　to　see　you　lose　your　cursed　eyes；　for　then　we'd

have　peace。　You　are　birds　of　ill…omen；　the　whole　of　you；　you　invent

shameful　stories　to　stir　up　strife　between　your　master　and　us。〃



The　keeper　allowed　the　sheriff　to　bathe　his　eyes　and　all　the　while　the

latter　kept　telling　him　that　he　was　legally　wrong。



〃The　old　thief！　she　has　tired　us　out；〃　said　Vatel　at　last。　〃She　has

been　at　work　in　the　woods　all　night。〃



As　the　whole　family　had　taken　an　active　hand　in　hiding　the　live　wood

and　putting　things　straight　in　the　cottage；　Tonsard　presently　appeared

at　the　door　with　an　insolent　air。　〃Vatel；　my　man；　if　you　ever　again

dare　to　force　your　way　into　my　domain；　my　gun　shall　answer　you；〃　he

said。　〃To…day　you　have　had　the　ashes；　the　next　time　you　shall　have　the

fire。　You　don't　know　your　own　business。　That's　enough。　Now　if　you　feel

hot　after　this　affair　take　some　wine；　I　offer　it　to　you；　and　you　may

come　in　and　see　that　my　old　mother's　bundle　of　fagots　hadn't　a　scrap

of