sons of the soil-第39章

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〃You　are　only　making　an　excuse　to　be　after　that　big　goose　of　a　girl；

Socquard's　daughter；〃　said　Marie　Tonsard；　giving　Bonnebault　a　slap　on

the　shoulder　that　made　his　lungs　hum。



Just　then　a　verse　of　an　old　Burgundian　Christmas　carol　was　heard：



　　〃One　fine　moment　of　his　life

　　Was　at　the　wedding　feast；

　　He　changed　the　water　into　wine；

　　Madeira　of　the　best。〃



Every　one　recognized　the　vinous　voice　of　old　Fourchon；　to　whom　the

verse　must　have　been　peculiarly　agreeable；　Mouche　accompanied　in　his

treble　tones。



〃Ha！　they're　full！〃　cried　old　Mother　Tonsard　to　her　daughter…in…law；

〃your　father　is　as　red　as　a　grid…iron；　and　that　chip　o'　the　block　as

pink　as　vine…shoot。〃



〃Your　healths！〃　cried　the　old　man；　〃and　a　fine　lot　of　scoundrels　you

are！　All　hail！〃　he　said　to　his　granddaughter；　whom　he　spied　kissing

Bonnebault；　〃hail；　Marie；　full　of　vice！　Satan　is　with　three；　cursed

art　thou　among　women；　etcetera。　All　hail；　the　company　present！　you　are

done　for；　every　one　of　you！　you　may　just　say　good…bye　to　your　sheaves。

I　being　news。　I　always　told　you　the　rich　would　crush　us；　well　now；　the

Shopman　is　going　to　have　the　law　of　you！　Ha！　see　what　it　is　to

struggle　against　those　bourgeois　fellows；　who　have　made　so　many　laws

since　they　got　into　power　that　they've　a　law　to　enforce　every　trick

they　play〃



A　violent　hiccough　gave　a　sudden　turn　to　the　ideas　of　the

distinguished　orator。



〃If　Vermichel　were　only　here　I'd　blow　in　his　gullet；　and　he'd　get　an

idea　of　sherry　wine。　Hey！　what　a　wine　it　is！　If　I　wasn't　a　Burgundian

I'd　be　a　Spaniard！　It's　God's　own　wine！　the　pope　says　mass　with　it

Hey！　I'm　young　again！　Say；　Courtecuisse！　if　your　wife　were　only　here

we'd　be　young　together。　Don't　tell　me！　Spanish　wine　is　worth　a　dozen

of　boiled　wine。　Let's　have　a　revolution　if　it's　only　to　empty　the

cellars！〃



〃But　what's　your　news；　papa？〃　said　Tonsard。



〃There'll　be　no　harvest　for　you；　the　Shopman　has　given　orders　to　stop

the　gleaning。〃



〃Stop　the　gleaning！〃　cried　the　whole　tavern；　with　one　voice；　in　which

the　shrill　tones　of　the　four　women　predominated。



〃Yes；〃　said　Mouche；　〃he　is　going　to　issue　an　order；　and　Groison　is　to

take　it　round；　and　post　it　up　all　over　the　canton。　No　one　is　to　glean

except　those　who　have　pauper　certificates。〃



〃And　what's　more；〃　said　Fourchon；　〃the　folks　from　the　other　districts

won't　be　allowed　here　at　all。〃



〃What's　that？〃　cried　Bonnebault；　〃do　you　mean　to　tell　me　that　neither

my　grandmother　nor　I；　nor　your　mother；　Godain；　can　come　here　and

glean？　Here's　tomfoolery　for　you；　a　pretty　show　of　authority！　Why；　the

fellow　is　a　devil　let　loose　from　hell；that　scoundrel　of　a　mayor！〃



〃Shall　you　glean　whether　or　no；　Godain？〃　said　Tonsard　to　the

journeyman　wheelwright；　who　was　saying　a　few　words　to　Catherine。



〃I？　I've　no　property；　I'm　a　pauper；〃　he　replied；　〃I　shall　ask　for　a

certificate。〃



〃What　did　they　give　my　father　for　his　otter；　bibi？〃　said　Madame

Tonsard　to　Mouche。



Though　nearly　at　his　last　gasp　from　an　over…taxed　digestion　and　two

bottles　of　wine；　Mouche；　sitting　on　Madame　Tonsard's　lap；　laid　his

head　on　his　aunt's　neck　and　whispered　slyly　in　her　ear：



〃I　don't　know；　but　he　has　got　gold。　If　you'll　feed　me　high　for　a

month；　perhaps　I　can　find　out　his　hiding…place；　he　has　one；　I　know

that。〃



〃Father's　got　gold！〃　whispered　La　Tonsard　to　her　husband；　whose　voice

was　loudest　in　the　uproar　of　the　excited　discussion；　in　which　all

present　took　part。



〃Hush！　here's　Groison；〃　cried　the　old　sentinel。



Perfect　silence　reigned　in　the　tavern。　When　Groison　had　got　to　a　safe

distance；　Mother　Tonsard　made　a　sign；　and　the　discussion　began　again

on　the　question　as　to　whether　they　should　persist　in　gleaning；　as

before；　without　a　certificate。



〃You'll　have　to　give　in；〃　said　Pere　Fourchon；　〃for　the　Shopman　has

gone　to　see　the　prefect　and　get　troops　to　enforce　the　order。　They'll

shoot　you　like　dogs；and　that's　what　we　are！〃　cried　the　old　man；

trying　to　conquer　the　thickening　of　his　speech　produced　by　his

potations　of　sherry。



This　fresh　announcement；　absurd　as　it　was；　made　all　the　drinkers

thoughtful；　they　really　believed　the　government　capable　of

slaughtering　them　without　pity。



〃I　remember　just　such　troubles　near　Toulouse；　when　I　was　stationed

there；〃　said　Bonnebault。　〃We　were　marched　out；　and　the　peasants　were

cut　and　slashed　and　arrested。　Everybody　laughed　to　see　them　try　to

resist　cavalry。　Ten　were　sent　to　the　galleys；　and　eleven　put　in

prison；　the　whole　thing　was　crushed。　Hey！　what？　why；　soldiers　are

soldiers；　and　you　are　nothing　but　civilian　beggars；　they've　a　right；

they　think；　to　sabre　peasants；　the　devil　take　you！〃



〃Well；　well；〃　said　Tonsard；　〃what　is　there　in　all　that　to　frighten　you

like　kids？　What　can　they　get　out　of　my　mother　and　daughters？　Put　'em

in　prison？　well；　then　they　must　feed　them；　and　the　Shopman　can't

imprison　the　whole　country。　Besides；　prisoners　are　better　fed　at　the

king's　expense　than　they　are　at　their　own；　and　they're　kept　warmer；

too。〃



〃You　are　a　pack　of　fools！〃　roared　Fourchon。　〃Better　gnaw　at　the

bourgeois　than　attack　him　in　front；　otherwise；　you'll　get　your　backs

broke。　If　you　like　the　galleys；　so　be　it；that's　another　thing！　You

don't　work　as　hard　there　as　you　do　in　the　fields；　true　enough；　but　you

don't　have　your　liberty。〃



〃Perhaps　it　would　be　well；〃　said　Vaudoyer；　who　was　among　the　more

valiant　in　counsel；　〃if　some　of　us　risked　our　skins　to　deliver　the

neighborhood　of　that　Languedoc　fellow　who　has　planted　himself　at　the

gate　of　the　Avonne。〃



〃Do　Michaud's　business　for　him？〃　said　Nicolas；　〃I'm　good　for　that。〃



〃Things　are　not　ripe　for　it；〃　said　old　Fourchon。　〃We　should　risk　too

much；　my　children。　The　best　way　is　to　make　ourselves　look　miserable

and　cry　famine；　then　the　Shopman　and　his　wife　will　want　to　help　us；

and　you'll　get　more　out　of　them　that　way　than　you　will　by　gleaning。〃



〃You　are　all　blind　moles；〃　shouted　Tonsard；　〃let　'em　pick　a　quarrel

with　their　law　and　their　troops；　they　can't　put　the　whole　country　in

irons；　and　we've　plenty　of　friends　at　Ville…aux…Fayes　and　among　the

old　lords　who'll　sustain　us。〃



〃That's　true；〃　said　Courtecuisse；　〃none　of　the　other　land…owners

complain；　it　is　only　the　Shopman；　Monsieur　de　Soulanges　and　Monsieur

de　Ronquerolles　and　others；　they　are　satisfied。　When　I　think　that　if

that　cuirassier　had　only　had　the　courage　to　let　himself　be　killed　like

the　rest　I　should　still　be　happy　at　the　gate　of　the　Avonne；　and　that

it　was　he　that　turned　my　life　topsy…turvy；　it　just　puts　me　beside

myself。〃



〃They　won't　call　out　the　troops　for　a　Shopman　who　has　set　every　one　in

the　district　against　him；〃　said　Godain。　〃The　fault's　his　own；　he　tried

to　ride　over　everybody　here；　and　upset　everything；　and　the　government

will　just　say　to　him；　'Hush　up。'〃



〃The　government　never　says　anything　else；　it　can't；　poor　government！〃

said　Fourchon；　seized　with　a　sudden　tenderness　for　the　government。

〃Yes；　I　pity　it；　that　good　government；　it　is　very　unlucky；it　hasn't

a　penny；　like　us；　but　that's　very　stupid　of　a　government　that　makes

the　money　itself；　very　stupid！　Ah！　if　I　were　the　government〃



〃But；〃　cried　Courtecuisse；　〃they　tell　me　in　Ville…aux…Fayes　that

Monsieur　de　Ronquerolles　talked　about　our　rights　in　the　Assembly。〃



〃That's　in　Monsieur　Rigou's　newspaper；〃　said　Vaudoyer；　who　in　his

capacity　of　ex…field…keeper　knew　how　to　read　and　write；　〃I　read　it〃



In　spite　of　his　vinous　tenderness；　old　Fourchon；　like　many　of　the

lower　classes　whose　faculties　are　stimulated　by　drunkenness；　was

following；　with　an　intelligent　eye　and　a　keen　ear；　this　curious

discussion　which　a　variety　of　asides　rendered　still　more　curious。

Suddenly；　he　stood　up　in　the　middle　of　the　room。



〃Listen　to　the　old　one；　he's　drunk！〃　said　Tonsard；　〃and　when　he　is；　he

is　twice　as　full　of　deviltry；　he　has　his　own　and　that　of　the　wine〃



〃Spanish　wine；　and　that　trebles　it！〃　cried　Fourchon；　laughing　like　a

satyr。　〃My　sons；　don't　butt　your　head　straight　at　the　thing；you're

too　weak；　go　at　it　sideways。　Lay　low；　play　dead；　the　little　woman　is

scared。　I　tell　you；　the　thing'll　come　to　an　end　before　long；　she'll

leave　the　place；　and　if　she　does　the　Shopman　will　follow　her；　for

she's　his　passion。　That's　your　plan。　Only；　to　make　'em　go　faster；　my

advice　is　to　get　rid　of　their　counsellor；　their　support；　our　spy；　our

ape〃



〃Who's　that？〃



〃The　damned　abbe；　of　course；〃　said　Tonsard；　〃that　hunter　after　sins；

who　thinks　the　host　is　food　enough　for　us。〃



〃That's　true；〃　cried　Vaudoyer；　〃we　were　happy　enough　till　he　came。　We

ought　to　get　rid　of　that　eater　of　the　good　God；he's　the　real　enemy。〃



〃Finikin；〃　added　Fourchon；　using　a　nickname　which　the　abbe　owed　to　his

prim　and　rather　puny　appearance；　〃might　be　led　into　temptation　and

fall　into　the　power　of　some　sly　girl；　for　he　fasts　so　much。　Then　if　we

could　catch　him　in　the　act　and　drum　him　up　with　a　good　charivari；　the

bishop　would　be　obliged　to　send　him　elsewhere。　It　would　please　old

Rigou　devilish　well。　Now　if　your　daughter；　Courtecuisse；　would　leave

Auxerreshe's　a　pretty　girl；　and　if　she'd　take　to　piety；　she　might

save　us　all。　Hey！　ran　tan　plan！〃



〃Why　don't　YOU　do　it？〃　said　Godain　to　Catherine；　in　a　low　voice；

〃there'd　be　scuttles　full　of　money　to　hush　up　the　talk；　and　for　the

time　being　you'd　be　mistress　here〃



〃Shall　we　glean；　or　shall　we　not　glean？　that's　the　point；〃　said

Bonnebault。　〃I　don't　care　two　straws　for　your　abbe；　not　I；　I　belong　to

Conches；　where　we　haven't　a　black…coat　to　poke　up　our　consciences。〃



〃Look　here；〃　said　Vaudoyer；　〃we　had　better　go　and　ask　Rigou；　who　knows

the　law；　whether　the　Shopman　can　forbid　gleaning；　and　he'll　tell　us　if

we've　got　the　right　of　it。　If　the　Shopman　has　the　law　on　his　side；

well；　then　we　must　do　as　the　old　one　says；see　about　taking　things

sideways。〃



〃Blood　will　be　spilt；〃　said　Nicolas；　darkly；　as　he　rose　after　drinking

a　whole　bottle　of　wine；　which　Catherine　drew　for　him　in　order　to　keep

him　silent。　〃If　you'd　only　listen　to　me　you'd　down　Michaud；　but　you

are　miserable　weaklings；nothing　but　poor　trash！〃



〃I'm　not；〃　said　Bonnebault。　〃If　you　are　all　safe　friends　who'll　keep

your　tongues　between　your　teeth；　I'll　aim　at　the　Shopman　Hey！　how

I'd　like　to　put　a　plum　through　his　bottle；　wouldn't　it　avenge　me　on

those　cursed　officers？〃



〃Tut！　tut！〃　cried　Jean…Louis　Tonsard；　who　was　supposed　to　be；　more　or

less；　Gaubertin's　son；　and　who　had　just　entered　the　tavern。　This

fellow；　who　was　courting　Rigou's　pretty　servant…girl；　had　succeeded

his　nominal　father　as　clipper　of　hedges　and　shrubberies　and　other

Tonsardial　occupations。　Going　about　among　the　well…to…do　houses；　he

talked　with　masters　and　servants　and　picked　up　ideas　which　made　him

the　man　of　the　world　of　the　family；　the　shrewd　head。　We　shall

presently　see　that　in　making　love　to　Rig