\"Ifwehaveawar,Francewillbewithouthorses,asNapoleonwasin1813,when,beingreducedtothoseofFranceonly,hecouldnotprofitbyhistwovictoriesofLutzenandBotzen,andsowascrushedatLeipzig,\"criedGrossetete。\"Ifpeacecontinues,theevilwillonlyincrease。Twenty—fiveyearsfromnowtheraceofcattleandhorseswillhavediminishedinFrancebyonehalf。\"
\"MonsieurGrosseteteisright,\"remarkedGerard。\"Sothattheworkyouareundertakinghere,madame,\"headded,addressingVeronique,\"isreallyaservicedonetothecountry。\"
\"Yes,\"saidthe/jugedepaix/,\"becauseMadamehasbutoneson,andtheinheritancewillnotbedividedup;buthowlongwillthatconditionlast?Foracertainlengthoftimethemagnificentculturewhichyouareabouttointroducewill,letushope,belongtoonlyoneproprietor,whowillcontinuetobreedhornedbeastsandhorses;butsoonerorlaterthedaymustcomewhentheseforestsandfieldswillbedividedupandsoldinsmallparcels。Dividedandredivided,thesixthousandacresofthatplainwillhaveathousandortwelvehundredowners,andthenceforth——nomorehorsesandcattle!\"
\"Oh!asforthosedays\"——beganthemayor。
\"There!don’tyouhearthe/Whatisthattome?/MonsieurClousiertalkedof?\"criedMonsieurGrossetete。\"Takenintheact!But,monsieur,\"resumedthebanker,gravelyaddressingthedumfoundedmayor,\"thosedayshavereallycome。InaradiusofthirtymilesroundParisthelandissodividedupintosmallholdingsthatmilchcowsarenolongerseen。TheCommuneofArgenteuilcontainsthirty—eightthousandeighthundredandeighty—fiveparcelsofland,manyofwhichdonotreturnafarthingofrevenue。IfitwerenotfortherichrefuseofParis,whichproducesafodderofstrongquality,Idon’tknowhowdairymenwouldgetalong。Asitis,thisover—stimulatingfoodandconfinementinclosestablesproduceinflammatorydiseases,ofwhichthecowsoftendie。TheyusecowsintheneighborhoodofParisastheydohorsesinthestreet。Cropsmoreprofitablethanhay——vegetables,fruit,appleorchards,vineyards——aretakingtheplaceofmeadow—lands。InafewyearsweshallseemilksenttoParisbythemail—coachesastheynowsendfish。WhatisgoingonaroundParisisalsogoingonroundallthelargecitiesofFrance;thelandwillthusbeusedupbeforemanyyearsaregone。Chaptelstatesthatin1800
therewerebarelytwomillionacresofvineyardinFrance;acarefulestimatewouldgivetenmillionto—day。Divided/adinfinitum/byourpresentsystemofinheritance,Normandywilllosehalfherproductionofhorsesandcattle;butshewillhaveamonopolyofmilkinParis,forherclimate,happily,forbidsgrapeculture。Weshallsoonseeacuriousphenomenonintheprogressiveriseinthecostofmeat。Intwentyyearsfromnow,in1850,Paris,whichpaidseventoelevensousforapoundofbeefin1814,willbepayingtwenty——unlesstherecomesamanofgeniuswhocancarryouttheplanofCharlesX。\"
\"YouhavelaidyourfingeronthemortalwoundofFrance,\"saidthe/jugedepaix/。\"TherootofourevilsliesinthesectionrelatingtoinheritanceintheCivilCode,inwhichtheequaldivisionofpropertyamongheirsisordained。That’sthepestlethatpoundsterritoryintocrumbs,individualizesfortunes,andtakesfromthemtheirneedfulstability;decomposingeverandneverrecomposing,——astateofthingswhichmustendintheruinofFrance。TheFrenchRevolutionemittedadestructivevirustowhichtheJulydayshavegivenfreshactivity。
Thisvitiatingelementistheaccessionofthepeasantrytotheownershipofland。Inthesection’OnInheritance’istheprincipleoftheevil,thepeasantisthemeansthroughwhichitworks。Nosoonerdoesthatclassgetaparceloflandintoitsmawthanitbeginstosubdivideit,tilltherearescarcelythreefurrowsleftineachlot。
Andeventhenthepeasantdoesnotstop!Hedividesthethreefurrowsacrosstheirlength,asMonsieurGrossetetehasjustshownusatArgenteuil。Theunreasonablepricewhichthepeasantattachestothesmallestscrapofhislandmakesitimpossibletorepurchaseandrestoreafineestate。Monsieur,\"hewenton,indicatingGrossetete,\"hasjustmentionedthediminutionintheraisingofhorsesandcattle;well,theCodehasmuchtodowiththat。Thepeasant—
proprietorownscows;helookstothemforhismeansofliving;hesellsthecalves,hesellshisbutter;heneverdreamsofraisingcattle,stilllessofraisinghorses;butashecannotraiseenoughfoddertosupporthiscowsthroughadryseason,hesendsthemtomarketwhenhecanfeedthemnolonger。Ifbysomefatalchancethehayweretofailfortwoyearsrunning,youwouldseeastartlingchangethethirdyearinthepriceofbeef,butespeciallyinthatofveal。\"
\"Thatmayputastopto’patrioticbanquets,’\"saidthedoctor,laughing。
\"Oh!\"exclaimedMadameGraslin,lookingatRoubaud,\"can’tpoliticsgetonwithoutthewitofjournalism,evenhere?\"
\"Inthislamentablebusiness,thebourgeoisieplaysthesame/role/asthepioneersofAmerica,\"continuedClousier。\"Itbuysupgreatestates,whichthepeasantrycouldnototherwiseacquire。Itcutsthemupandthensells,eitheratauctionorinsmalllotsatprivatesale,tothepeasants。Everythingisjudgedbyfiguresinthesedays,andI
knownonemoreeloquentthanthese。Francehasninety—ninemillionacres,which,subtractinghighways,roads,dunes,canals,andbarren,uncultivatedregionsdesertedbycapital,maybereducedtoeightymillions。Nowoutofeightymillionsofacrestothirty—twomillionsofinhabitantswefindonehundredandtwenty—fivemillionsofsmalllotsregisteredonthetax—list(Idon’tgivefractions)。Thus,youwillobserve,wehavegonetotheutmostlimitofagrarianlaw,andyetwehavenotseenthelastofpovertyordissatisfaction。Thosewhodivideterritoryintofragmentsandlessenproductionhave,ofcourse,plentyoforganstocryoutthattruesocialjusticeconsistsingivingeverymanalifeinterest,andnomore,inaparcelofland;
perpetualownership,theysay,isrobbery。TheSaint—Simoniansarealreadyproclaimingthatdoctrine。\"
\"Themagistratehasspoken,\"saidGrossetete,\"andhere’swhatthebankeraddstothoseboldconsiderations。ThefactthatthepeasantryandthelesserbourgeoisiecannowacquirelanddoesFranceaninjurywhichthegovernmentseemsnoteventosuspect。Wemayestimatethenumberofpeasantfamilies,omittingpaupers,atthreemillions。Thesefamiliessubsistonwages。Wagesarepaidinmoney,andnotinkind——\"
\"Yes,that’sanotherblunderofourlaws!\"criedClousier,interruptingthebanker。\"Therighttopayinkindmighthavebeengrantedin1790;now,ifweattemptedtocarrysuchalaw,weshouldriskarevolution。\"
\"Therefore,asIwasabouttosay,theproletarydrawstohimselfthemoneyofthecountry,\"resumedGrossetete。\"Nowthepeasanthasnootherpassion,desire,orwill,thantodiealand—owner。Thisdesire,asMonsieurClousierhaswellshown,wasbornoftheRevolution,andisthedirectresultofthesaleoftheNationaldomain。AmanmustbeignorantindeedofwhatisgoingonalloverFranceinthecountryregionsifheisnotawarethatthesethreemillionfamiliesareyearlyhoardingatleastfiftyfrancs,thussubtractingahundredandfiftymillionsfromcurrentuse。Thescienceofpoliticaleconomyhasmadeitanaxiomthatafive—francpiece,passingthroughahundredhandsinoneday,isequivalenttofivehundredfrancs。Now,itisperfectlyplaintoallofuswholiveinthecountryandobservethestateofaffairs,thateverypeasanthashiseyeonthelandhecovets;heiswatchingandwaitingforit,andheneverinvestshissavingselsewhere;heburiesthem。Insevenyearsthesavingsthusrenderedinertandunproductiveamounttoelevenhundredmillionfrancs。Butsincethelesserbourgeoisieburyasmuchmore,withthesamepurpose,Franceloseseverysevenyearstheinterestofatleasttwothousandmillions,——thatistosay,aboutonehundredmillions;alosswhichinforty—twoyearsamountstosixhundredmillionfrancs。
Butshenotonlylosessixhundredmillions,shefailstocreatewiththatmoneymanufacturingoragriculturalproducts,whichrepresentalossoftwelvehundredmillions;for,ifthemanufacturedproductwerenotdoubleinvaluetoitscostprice,commercecouldnotexist。Theproletariatactuallydeprivesitselfofsixhundredmillionsinwages。
Thesesixhundredmillionsofdeadloss(representingtoasterneconomistalossoftwelvehundredmillions,throughlackofthebenefitsofcirculation)explaintheconditionofinferiorityinwhichourcommerce,ourmerchantservice,andouragriculturestand,ascomparedwithEngland。Inspiteofthedifferenceofthetwoterritories,whichismorethantwothirdsinourfavor,EnglandcouldremountthecavalryoftwoFrencharmies,andshehasmeatforeveryman。Butthere,asthesystemoflandedpropertymakesitalmostimpossibleforthelowerclassestoobtainit,moneyisnothoarded;
itbecomescommercial,andisturnedover。Thus,besidestheevilofparcellingtheland,involvingthatofthediminutionofhorses,cattle,andsheep,thesectionoftheCodeoninheritancecostsussixhundredmillionsofinterest,lostbythehoardingofthemoneyofthepeasantryandbourgeoisie,andtwelvehundredmillions,atleast,ofproducts;or,includingthelossfromnon—circulation,threethousandmillionsinhalfacentury!\"
\"Themoraleffectisworsethanthematerialeffect,\"criedtherector。\"Wearemakingbeggar—proprietorsamongthepeopleandhalf—
taughtcommunitiesofthelesserbourgeoisie;andthefatalmaxim’Eachforhimself,’whichhaditseffectupontheupperclassesinJulyofthisyear,willsoonhavegangrenedthemiddleclasses。A
proletariatdevoidofsentiment,withnoothergodthanenvy,nootherfanaticismthanthedespairofhunger,withoutfaith,withoutbelief,willcomeforwardbeforelongandputitsfootontheheartofthenation。Foreigners,whohavethrivenundermonarchicalrule,willfindthat,havingroyalty,wehavenoking;havinglegality,wehavenolaws;havingproperty,noowners;nogovernmentwithourelections,noforcewithfreedom,nohappinesswithequality。LetushopethatbeforethatdaycomesGodmayraiseupinFranceaprovidentialman,oneofthoseElectwhogiveanewmindtonations,andlikeSyllaorlikeMarius,whetherhecomesfromaboveorrisesfrombelow,remakessociety。\"
\"Hewouldbesenttotheassizes,\"saidGerard。\"ThesentencepronouncedagainstSocratesandJesusChristwouldberenderedagainstthemin1831。Inthesedaysasintheolddays,enviousmediocrityletsthinkersdieofpoverty,andsogetsridofthegreatpoliticalphysicianswhohavestudiedthewoundsofFrance,andwhoopposethetendenciesoftheirepoch。Iftheybearupunderpoverty,commonmindsridiculethemorcallthemdreamers。InFrance,menrevoltinthemoralworldagainstthegreatmanofthefuture,justastheyrevoltinthepoliticalworldagainstasovereign。\"
\"Intheoldentimesophiststalkedtoalimitednumberofmen;to—daytheperiodicalpressenablesthemtoleadastrayanation,\"criedthe/jugedepaix/;\"andthatportionofthepresswhichpleadsforrightideasfindsnoecho。\"
ThemayorlookedatMonsieurClousierinamazement。MadameGraslin,gladtofindinasimple/jugedepaix/amanwhosemindwasoccupiedwithseriousquestions,saidtoMonsieurRoubaud,herneighbor,\"DoyouknowMonsieurClousier?\"
\"Notrightlyuntilto—day,madame。Youaredoingmiracles,\"heansweredinawhisper。\"Andyet,lookathisbrow,hownobleinshape!
Isn’titliketheclassicortraditionalbrowgivenbysculptorstoLycurgusandtheGreeksages?TherevolutionofJulyhasanevidentlyretrogradetendency,\"saidthedoctor(whomightinhisstudentdayshavemadeabarricadehimself),aftercarefullyconsideringGrossetete’scalculation。
\"Theseideasarethreefold,\"continuedClousier。\"Youhavetalkedoflawandfinance,buthowisitwiththegovernmentitself?Theroyalpower,weakenedbythedoctrineofnationalsovereignty,invirtueofwhichtheelectionofAugust9,1830,hasjustbeenmade,willendeavortocounteractthatrivalprinciplewhichgivestothepeopletherighttosaddlethenationwithanewdynastyeverytimeitdoesnotfullycomprehendtheideasofitsking。YouwillseethatweshallthenhaveinternalstruggleswhichwillarrestforlongperiodstogethertheprogressofFrance。\"
\"AllthesereefshavebeenwiselyevadedbyEngland,\"remarkedGerard。
\"Ihavebeenthere;Iadmirethatbeehive,whichsendsitsswarmsovertheuniverseandcivilizesmankind,——apeopleamongwhomdiscussionisapoliticalcomedy,whichsatisfiesthemassesandhidestheactionofpower,whichthenworksfreelyinitsuppersphere;acountrywhereelectionsarenotinthehandsofastupidbourgeoisie,astheyareinFrance。IfEnglandwereparcelledoutintosmallholdingsthenationwouldnolongerexist。Theland—owningclass,thelords,guidethesocialmechanism。Theirmerchant—service,underthenoseofEurope,takespossessionofwholeregionsoftheglobetomeettheneedsoftheircommerceandtogetridoftheirpaupersandmalcontents。
Insteadoffightingcapacities,aswedo,thwartingthem,nullifyingthem,theEnglisharistocraticclassseeksoutyoungtalent,rewardsit,andisconstantlyassimilatingit。Everythingwhichconcernstheactionofthegovernment,inthechoiceofmenandthings,ispromptinEngland,whereaswithusallisslow;andyettheEnglishareslowbynature,whileweareimpatient。Withthemmoneyisboldandactivelyemployed;withusitistimidandsuspicious。WhatMonsieurGrossetetehassaidoftheindustriallosseswhichthehoardingpeasantryinflictonFrancehasitsproofinafactIwillshowtoyouintwowords:Englishcapital,byitsperpetualturningover,hascreatedtenthousandmillionsofmanufacturingandinterest—bearingproperty;whereasFrenchcapital,whichisfarmoreabundant,hasnotcreatedonetenthofthatamount。\"
\"Andthatisallthemoreextraordinary,\"saidRoubaud,\"becausetheyarelymphatic,andwe,asageneralthing,aresanguineandenergetic。\"
\"Ah!monsieur,\"saidClousier,\"thereyoutouchagreatquestion,whichoughttobestudied:Howtofindinstitutionsproperlyadaptedtorepressthetemperamentofapeople!AssuredlyCromwellwasagreatlegislator。HealonemadetheEnglandofto—day,byinventingthe’NavigationAct,’whichhasmadetheEnglishenemiesofalltheworld,andinfusedintothemaferociousprideandself—conceit,whichistheirmainstay。But,inspiteoftheirMaltacitadel,ifFranceandRussiawillonlycomprehendtheparttheMediterraneanandtheBlackSeaoughttobemadetoplayinthefuture,theroadtoAsiathroughEgyptorbytheEuphrates,madefeasiblebyrecentdiscoveries,willkillEngland,asinformertimesthediscoveryoftheCapeofGoodHopekilledVenice。\"
\"NotonewordofGod’sprovidenceinallthis!\"criedtherector。
\"MonsieurClousierandMonsieurRoubaudareobliviousofreligion。Howisitwithyou,monsieur?\"headded,turningtoGerard。
\"Protestant,\"putinGrossetete。
\"Youguessedit,\"criedVeronique,lookingattherectorasshetookClousier’sarmtoreturntothesalon。
TheprejudiceGerard’sappearanceexcitedagainsthimhadbeenquicklydispelled,andthethreenotablescongratulatedthemselvesonsogoodanacquisition。
\"Unfortunately,\"saidMonsieurBonnet,\"thereisacauseofantagonismbetweenRussiaandtheCatholiccountrieswhichbordertheMediterranean,intheveryunimportantschismwhichseparatestheGreekreligionfromtheLatinreligion;anditisagreatmisfortuneforhumanity。\"
\"Weallpreachourownsaint,\"saidMadameGraslin。\"MonsieurGrossetetethinksofthelostmillions;MonsieurClousier,oftheoverthrowofrights;thedoctorhereregardslegislationasaquestionoftemperaments;andtherectorseesanobstacletothegoodunderstandingofFranceandRussiainreligion。\"
\"Addtothat,madame,\"saidGerard,\"thatIsee,inthehoardingofcapitalbythepeasantandthesmallburgher,thepostponementofthebuildingofrailroadsinFrance。\"
\"Thenwhatisityouallwant?\"sheasked。
\"WewantthewiseStatecouncillorswho,undertheEmperor,reflectedonthelaws,andalegislativebodyelectedbytheintelligenceofthecountryaswellasbytheland—owners,whoseonlyfunctionwouldbetoopposebadlegislationandcapriciouswars。TheChamber,asconstitutedto—day,willproceed,asyouwillsoonsee,togovern,andthatisthefirststeptolegalanarchy。\"
\"GoodGod!\"criedtherector,inaflushofsacredpatriotism,\"howcansuchenlightenedmindsasthese,\"andhemotionedtoClousier,Roubaud,andGerard,\"howcantheyseeevilsoclearlyandsuggestremedieswithoutfirstlookingwithinandapplyingaremedytothemselves?Allofyou,whorepresenttheattackedclasses,recognizethenecessityofthepassiveobedienceofthemassesoftheState,likethatofsoldiersduringawar;youwanttheunityofpower,andyoudesirethatitshallneverbebroughtintoquestion。WhatEnglandhasobtainedbythedevelopmentofherprideandself—interest(apartofhercreed)cannotbeobtainedinFrancebutthroughsentimentsduetoCatholicism,andnoneofyouareCatholics!HereamI,apriest,obligedtoleavemyowngroundandarguewitharguers。Howcanyouexpectthemassestobecomereligiousandobedientwhentheyseeirreligionandwantofdisciplineabovethem?Allpeoplesunitedbyanyfaithwhateverwillinevitablygetthebetterofpeopleswithoutanyfaithatall。Thelawofpublicinterest,whichgivesbirthtopatriotism,isdestroyedbythelawofprivateinterest,whichitsanctions,butwhichgivesbirthtoselfishness。Thereisnothingsolidanddurablebutthatwhichisnatural;andthenaturalthinginhumanpolicyistheFamily。Thefamilymustbethepointofdepartureforallinstitutions。Auniversaleffectprovesauniversalcause;andwhatyouhavejustbeensettingforthasevidentonallsidescomesfromthesocialprincipleitself;whichisnowwithoutforcebecauseithastakenforitsbasisindependenceofthoughtandwill,andsuchfreedomistheparentofindividualism。Tomakehappinessdependonthestability,intelligence,andcapacityofallisnotaswiseastomakehappinessdependonthestabilityandintelligenceofinstitutionsandthecapacityofasinglehead。Itiseasiertofindwisdominonemanthaninawholenation。Peopleshaveheartandnoeyes;theyfeel,andseenot。Governmentsoughttosee,andnotdetermineanythingthroughsentiment。Thereis,therefore,anevidentcontradictionbetweentheimpulsesofthemultitudeandtheactionofpowerwhosefunctionitistodirectandunifythoseimpulses。Tomeetwithagreatprinceiscertainlyararechance(touseyourterm),buttotrusttoawholeassembly,eventhoughitiscomposedofhonestmenonly,isfolly。Franceiscommittingthatfollyatthismoment。Alas!
youarejustasmuchconvincedofthatasIam。Ifallright—mindedmen,likeyourselves,wouldonlysetanexamplearoundthem,ifallintelligenthandswouldraise,inthegreatrepublicofsouls,thealtarsoftheoneChurchwhichhassettheinterestsofhumanitybeforeher,wemightagainbeholdinFrancethemiraclesourfathersdidhere。\"
\"Butthedifficultyis,monsieur,\"saidGerard,——\"ifImayspeaktoyouwiththefreedomoftheconfessional,——Ilookuponfaithasaliewetelltoourselves,onhopeasaliewetellaboutthefuture,andoncharityasatrickforchildrentokeepthemgoodbythepromiseofsugar—plums。\"
\"Still,wesleepbetterforbeingrockedbyhope,monsieur,\"saidMadameGraslin。
ThisspeechstoppedRoubaud,whowasabouttoreply;itseffectwasstrengthenedbyalookfromGrosseteteandtherector。
\"Isitourfault,\"saidClousier,\"thatJesusChristhadnotthetimetoformulateagovernmentinaccordancewithhismoralteaching,asdidMosesandConfucius,thetwogreatesthumanlaw—givers?——witnesstheexistence,asanation,oftheJewsandChinese,theformerinspiteoftheirdispersionoverthewholeearth,andthelatterinspiteoftheirisolation。\"
\"Ah!dearme!whatworkyouarecuttingoutforme!\"criedtherectornaively。\"ButIshalltriumph,Ishallconvertyouall!Youaremuchnearertothetruefaiththanyouthinkyouare。Truthalwayslurksbehindfalsehood;goonastep,turnround,andthenyou’llseeit。\"
Thislittleoutburstofthegoodrectorhadtheeffectofchangingtheconversation。
XVIII
CATHERINECURIEUX
Beforetakinghisdeparturethenextday,MonsieurGrossetetepromisedVeroniquetoassociatehimselfinallherplans,assoonastherealizationofthemwasapracticablething。MadameGraslinandGerardaccompaniedhiscarriageonhorseback,anddidnotleavehimtilltheyreachedthejunctionofthehigh—roadofMontegnacwiththatfromBordeauxtoLyon。Theengineerwassoimpatienttoseethelandhewastoreclaim,andVeroniquewassoimpatienttoshowittohim,thattheyhadplannedthisexpeditiontheeveningbefore。
Afterbiddingadieutothekindoldman,theyturnedofftheroadacrossthevastplain,andskirtedthemountainchainfromthefootoftherisewhichledtothechateautothesteepfaceoftheRoche—Vive。
TheengineerthensawplainlytheshelforbarricadeofrockmentionedbyFarrabesche;whichforms,asitwere,thelowestfoundationofthehills。BysodirectingthewaterthatitshouldnotoverflowtheindestructiblecanalwhichNaturehadbuilt,andbyclearingouttheaccumulationofearthwhichchokeditup,irrigationwouldbehelpedratherthanhinderedbythisnaturalsluice—way,whichwasraised,onanaverage,tenfeetabovetheplain。ThefirstimportantpointwastoestimatetheamountofwaterflowingthroughtheGabou,andtomakesurewhetherornottheslopesofthevalleyallowedanytoescapeinotherdirections。
VeroniquegaveFarrabescheahorse,anddirectedhimtoaccompanytheengineerandtoexplaintohimeverythinghehadhimselfnoticed。
Afterseveraldays’carefulexploration,Gerardfoundthatthebaseofthetwoparallelslopeswassufficientlysolid,thoughdifferentincomposition,toholdthewater,allowingnonetoescape。DuringthemonthofJanuary,whichwasrainy,heestimatedthequantityofwaterflowingthroughtheGabou。Thisquantity,addedtothatofthreestreamswhichcouldeasilybeledintoit,wouldsupplywaterenoughtoirrigateatractoflandthreetimesasextensiveastheplainofMontegnac。ThedammingoftheGabouandtheworksnecessarytodirectthewaterofthethreevalleystotheplain,oughtnottocostmorethansixtythousandfrancs;fortheengineerdiscoveredonthecommonsaquantityofcalcareoussoilwhichwouldfurnishthelimecheaply,theforestwascloseathand,thewoodandstonecostnothing,andthetransportationwastrifling。WhileawaitingtheseasonwhentheGabouwouldbedry(theonlytimesuitableforthework)allthenecessarypreparationscouldbemadesoastopushtheenterprisethroughrapidlywhenitwasoncebegun。
Butthepreparationoftheplainwasanotherthing;thataccordingtoGerard,wouldcostnotlessthantwohundredthousandfrancs,withoutincludingthesowingandplanting。Theplainwastobedividedintosquarecompartmentsoftwohundredandfiftyacreseach,wherethegroundhadtobecleared,notonlyofitsstuntedgrowths,butofrocks。Laborerswouldhavetodiginnumerabletrenches,andstonethemupsoastoletnowaterruntowaste,alsotodirectitsflowatwill。Thispartoftheenterpriseneededtheactiveandfaithfularmsofconscientiousworkers。Chanceprovidedthemwithatractoflandwithoutnaturalobstacles,alongevenstretchofplain,wherethewaters,havingafalloftenfeet,couldbedistributedatwill。
Nothinghinderedthefinestagriculturalresults,whileatthesametime,theeyewouldbegratifiedbyoneofthosemagnificentsheetsofverdurewhicharetheprideandthewealthofLombardy。Gerardsentforanoldandexperiencedforeman,whohadalreadybeenemployedbyhimelsewhereinthiscapacity,namedFresquin。
MadameGraslinwrotetoGrossetete,requestinghimtonegotiateforheraloanoftwohundredandfiftythousandfrancs,securedonherincomefromtheFunds,which,ifrelinquishedforsixyears,wouldbeenoughtopaybothcapitalandinterest。ThisloanwasobtainedinMarch。BythistimethepreliminarypreparationscarriedonbyGerardandhisforeman,Fresquin,werefullycompleted;also,thesurveying,estimating,levelling,andsounding。Thenewsofthisgreatenterprisespreadingaboutthecountry,stimulatedthelaboringpopulation。TheindefatigableFarrabesche,Colorat,Clousier,themayorofMontegnac,Roubaud,andothers,interestedeitherinthewelfareoftheneighborhoodorinMadameGraslin,selectedsuchoftheselaborersasseemedthepoorest,orweremostdeservingofemployment。GerardboughtforhimselfandforMonsieurGrosseteteathousandacresontheothersideofthehigh—roadtoMontegnac。Fresquin,theforeman,boughtfivehundred,andsentforhiswifeandchildren。
EarlyinApril,1832,MonsieurGrossetetecametoseethelandboughtforhimbyGerard,thoughhisjourneywaschieflyoccasionedbytheadventofCatherineCurieux,whohadcomefromParistoLimogesbythediligence。GrossetetenowbroughtherwithhimtoMontegnac。HefoundMadameGraslinjuststartingforchurch。MonsieurBonnetwastosayamasstoimploretheblessingofheavenontheworksthatwerethenbeginning。Allthelaborerswiththeirwivesandchildrenwerepresent。
\"Hereisyourprotegee,\"saidtheoldgentleman,presentingtoVeroniqueafeeble,sufferingwoman,apparentlyaboutthirtyyearsofage。
\"AreyouCatherineCurieux?\"askedMadameGraslin。
\"Yes,madame。\"
VeroniquelookedatCatherineforamoment。Shewasrathertall,well—
made,andfair;herfeaturesworeanexpressionofextremegentlenesswhichthebeautifulgraytonesoftheeyesdidnotcontradict。Theoutlineoftheface,theshapeofthebrowhadanobilitybothsimpleandaugust,suchaswesometimesmeetwithincountryregionsamongveryyounggirls,——asortofflowerofbeauty,whichfieldlabors,theconstantcaresofthehousehold,theburningofthesun,andwantofpersonalcare,removewithterriblerapidity。Hermovementshadthateaseofmotioncharacteristicofcountrygirls,towhichcertainhabitsunconsciouslycontractedinParisgaveadditionalgrace。IfCatherinehadremainedintheCorrezeshewouldbythistimehavelookedlikeanoldwoman,wrinkledandwithered;hercomplexion,oncerosy,wouldhavecoarsened;butParis,thoughitpaledher,hadpreservedherbeauty。Illness,toil,andgriefhadendowedherwiththemysteriousgiftsofmelancholy,theinwardvitalizingthought,whichislackingtopoorcountry—folkwhoselivesarealmostanimal。
Herdress,fullofthatParisiantastewhichallwomen,eventheleastcoquettish,contractsoreadily,distinguishedherstillfurtherfromanordinarypeasant—woman。Inherignoranceastowhatwasbeforeher,andhavingnomeansofjudgingMadameGraslin,sheappearedveryshyandshame—faced。
\"DoyoustillloveFarrabesche?\"askedVeronique,whenGrosseteteleftthemforamoment。
\"Yes,madame,\"sherepliedcoloring。
\"Why,then,havingsenthimathousandfrancsduringhisimprisonment,didyounotjoinhimafterhisrelease?Haveyouanyrepugnancetohim?SpeaktomeasthoughIwereyourmother。Areyouafraidhehasbecomealtogethercorrupt;ordidyoufearhenolongerwantedyou?\"
\"Neither,madame;butIdonotknowhowtoreadorwrite,andIwasservingaveryexactingoldlady;shefellillandIhadtonurseher。
ThoughIknewthetimewhenJacqueswouldbereleased,IcouldnotgetawayfromParisuntilafterthelady’sdeath。Shedidnotleavemeanything,notwithstandingmydevotiontoherinterestsandtoherpersonally。AfterthatIwantedtobecuredofanailmentcausedbynight—watchingandhardwork,andasIhadusedupmysavings,I
resolvedtogotothehospitalofSaint—Louis,whichIhavejustleft,cured。\"
\"Verygood,mychild,\"saidMadameGraslin,touchedbythissimpleexplanation。\"Buttellmenowwhyyouabandonedyourparentssoabruptly,whyyouleftyourchildbehindyou,andwhyyoudidnotsendanynewsofyourself,orgetsomeonetowriteforyou。\"
ForallanswerCatherinewept。
\"Madame,\"shesaidatlast,reassuredbythepressureofMadameGraslin’shand,\"Imayhavedonewrong,butIhadn’tthestrengthtostayhere。Ididnotfearmyself,butothers;Ifearedgossip,scandal。SolongasJacqueswasindanger,IwasnecessarytohimandIstayed;butafterhehadgoneIhadnostrengthleft,——agirlwithachildandnohusband!TheworstofcreatureswasbetterthanI。I
don’tknowwhatwouldhavebecomeofmehadIstayedtohearawordagainstmyboyorhisfather;Ishouldhavegonemad;Imighthavekilledmyself。Myfatherormymotherinamomentofangermighthavereproachedme。Iamtoosensitivetobearaquarreloraninsult,gentleasIam。Ihavehadmypunishmentinnotseeingmychild,Iwhohaveneverpassedadaywithoutthinkingofhiminalltheseyears!I
wishedtobeforgotten,andIhavebeen。Noonethoughtofme,——theybelievedmedead;andyet,manyatime,Ithoughtofleavingalljusttocomehereforadayandseemychild。\"