Atthetimeofthecreationofthegendarmerie，theComtede，Soulanges，whobythattimehadbecomeacolonel，askedforabrigade，forhisformerprotector，andlaterstillhesolicitedthepostwe，havenamedfortheyoungerSoudry。Besidesalltheseinfluences，the，marriageofMademoiselleGaubertinwithawealthybankerofthequai，Bethumemadetheunjuststewardfeelthathewasfarstrongerinthe，communitythanalieutenant-generaldrivenintoretirement。
Ifthishistoryprovidednootherinstructionthatthatofferedbythe，quarrelbetweenthegeneralandhissteward，itwouldstillbeuseful，tomanypersonsasalessonfortheirconductinlife。Hewhoreads，Machiavelliprofitably，knowsthathumanprudenceconsistsinnever，threatening;indoingbutnotsaying;inpromotingtheretreatofan，enemyandneverstepping，asthesayingis，onthetailofthe，serpent;andinavoiding，asonewouldmurder，theinflictionofa，blowtotheself-loveofanyonelowerthanone’sself。Aninjurydone，toaperson’sinterest，nomatterhowgreatitmaybeatthetime，is，forgivenorexplainedinthelongrun;butself-love，vanity，never，ceasestobleedfromawoundgiven，andneverforgivesit。Themoral，beingisactuallymoresensitive，morelivingasitwere，thanthe，physicalbeing。Theheartandthebloodarelessimpressiblethanthe，nerves。Inshort，ourinwardbeingrulesus，nomatterwhatwedo。You，mayreconciletwofamilieswhohavehalf-killedeachother，asin，BrittanyandinLaVendeeduringthecivilwars，butyoucannomore，reconcilethecalumniatorsandthecalumniatedthanyoucanthe，spoilersandthedespoiled。Itisonlyinepicpoemsthatmencurse，eachotherbeforetheykill。Thesavage，andthepeasantwhoismuch，likeasavage，seldomspeakunlesstodeceiveanenemy。Eversince，1789Francehasbeentryingtomakemanbelieve，againstallevidence，thattheyareequal。Tosaytoaman，“Youareaswindler，“maybe，takenasajoke;buttocatchhimintheactandproveittohimwith，acaneonhisback，tothreatenhimwithapolice-courtandnotfollow，upthethreat，istoremindhimoftheinequalityofconditions。If，themasseswillnotbrookanyspeciesofsuperiority，isitlikely，thataswindlerwillforgivethatofanhonestman？
Montcornetmighthavedismissedhisstewardunderpretextofpaying，offamilitaryobligationbyputtingsomeoldsoldierinhisplace;
Gaubertinandthegeneralwouldhaveunderstoodthematter，andthe，latter，bysparingthesteward’sself-lovewouldhavegivenhima，chancetowithdrawquietly。Gaubertin，inthatcase，wouldhaveleft，hislateemployerinpeace，andpossiblyhemighthavetakenhimself，andhissavingstoParisforinvestment。Butbeing，ashewas，ignominiouslydismissed，themanconceivedagainsthislatemasterone，ofthosebitterhatredswhichareliterallyapartofexistencein，provinciallife，thepersistency，duration，andplotsofwhichwould，astonishdiplomatistswhoaretrainedtoletnothingastonishthem。A
burningdesireforvengeanceledhimtosettleatVille-aux-Fayes，and，totakeapositionwherehecouldinjureMontcornetandstirup，sufficientenmityagainsttoforcehimtosellLesAigues。