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Good evening. And I wish you a deluge in order to sail in your basin!" "And I, too, am going," said M. Foureau the next moment; and, pointing to the pocket where the Abd-el-Kader was, "If I feel the want of another, I'll come back." The curé, before departing, timidly confided to Pécuchet that he did not think this imitation of a tomb in the midst of vegetables quite decorous.
You must give it up!" "What, pray?" "Rogues! I know well you are concealing it!" Someone had betrayed them. They replied that they had the curé's permission to keep it. "We'll soon see that!" Foureau went away. An hour later he came back. They were obstinate. In the first place, this holy-water basin was not wanted, as it really was not a holy-water basin at all.
Heurtaux desired it as a soldier, the curé through hatred of the Protestants, and Foureau in the interests of commerce. "You are giving expression," said Pécuchet, "to the sentiments of the Middle Ages." "The Middle Ages had their good side," returned Marescot. "For instance, our cathedrals." "However, sir, the abuses " "No matter the Revolution would not have come."
When he entered, the manikin was lying on its side, and the muscles of the face, having been loosened, caused a monstrous protrusion, and looked frightful. "What brings you here?" said Pécuchet. Foureau stammered: "Nothing, nothing at all." And, taking up one of the pieces from the table, "What is this?" "The buccinator," replied Bouvard.
"Let us be rid of the public!" The keeper made the busybodies take themselves off. "Very well," said Bouvard; "we don't want anyone." Foureau understood the allusion, and put it to them whether, not being medical men, they had the right to keep such an object in their possession. However, he was going to write to the prefect. What a country district it was!
Finally, the curé got orders from the bishop to keep quiet. Then, only Foureau remained. Bouvard and Pécuchet opposed him, bringing up against him his unfriendly attitude about the guns, his opposition to the club, his reactionary views, his avarice; and even persuaded Gouy that he wished to bring back the old régime.
"An honest man has no need of it," replied Foureau. "I make no speeches, for my part. I am not a journalist. And I tell you that France requires to be governed with a rod of iron." All called for a deliverer. As they were going out, Bouvard and Pécuchet heard M. de Faverges saying to the Abbé Jeufroy: "We must re-establish obedience. Authority perishes if it be made the subject of discussion.
The old servant informed them that this was M. Vaucorbeil, a doctor of some reputation in the district. She mentioned that the other people of note were the Comte de Faverges, formerly a deputy, and an extensive owner of land and cattle; M. Foureau, who sold wood, plaster, all sorts of things; M. Marescot, the notary; the Abbé Jeufroy; and the widow Bordin, who lived on her private income.
The mayor and the Abbé Jeufroy had at once recognised him. He had formerly been a joiner at Chavignolles. "Come, Gorju! take yourself off," said M. Foureau. "You ought not to be asking for alms." "I! Alms!" cried the exasperated man. "I served seven years in the wars in Africa. I've only just got up out of a hospital. Good God! must I turn cutthroat?"
They wore trousers of every colour, dirty shoulder-belts, old regimentals that were too short, leaving their shirts visible over their flanks; and each of them pretended that he had not the means of doing otherwise. A subscription was started to clothe the poorest of them. Foureau was niggardly, while women made themselves conspicuous.
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