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Updated: June 26, 2025
"That's an idea which proves that Madame reigns by mind as well as by beauty," said Lupin, who was rewarded by a grimace which the leading society of Soulanges were in the habit of accepting without protest for a smile. "One might do better still," said Rigou, after some thought; "if we could only turn it into a downright scandal."
"Is it possible that women paint?" "Now, Lupin," said Rigou, without replying to this naivete, "go over to Gaubertin's to-morrow morning. Tell him everything, so that we may all have thought it over before we meet, for now's the time to make an end of that damned Shopman.
A copy of the "Constitutionnel," that great organ of liberalism, after making the rounds of the Cafe de la Paix, came back to Rigou on the seventh day, the subscription, standing in the name of old Socquard the keeper of the coffee-house, being shared by twenty persons. Rigou passed the paper on to Langlume the miller, who, in turn, gave it in shreds to any one who knew how to read.
"My wife is not like yours," replied Lupin; "she is not defined as yet." Beneath his rosy exterior the notary possessed a subtle mind, and he had the sense to say nothing about his property, which was fully as large as that of Rigou. Monsieur Lupin's son, Amaury, was a great trouble to his father.
The "Paris items," and the anti-religion jokes of the liberal sheet formed the public opinion of the valley des Aigues. Rigou, like the venerable Abbe Gregoire, became a hero. For him, as for certain Parisian bankers, politics spread a mantle of popularity over his shameful dishonesty.
A former convert in the monastery, attached to Rigou as a dog is to his master, became the groom, gardener, herdsman, valet, and steward of the sensual Harpagon. Arsene Rigou, the daughter, married in 1821 without dowry to the prosecuting-attorney, inheriting something of her mother's rather vulgar beauty, together with the crafty mind of her father.
"I shouldn't be surprised if there were treasure buried in those cellars," observed Rigou, cleverly. "Nonsense!" The Comtesse de Moret received the property from Henri IV. when it was confiscated." "See what it is to know the history of France!" said Soudry. "You are right. It is time to come to an understanding with Gaubertin." "If he shirks," said Rigou, "we must smoke him out."
Not only were the interests of mayor and miller diametrically opposed, but Langlume had long hatched swindling projects with Rigou, who lent him money to carry on his business, or to acquire property. The miller had bought the right to the hay of certain fields for his horses, and Sibilet could not sell it except to him.
"That's the only one," answered Rigou, "but she is not suitable; she thinks she has only to be seen to be admired; she's not complying enough; we want a witch and a sly-boots, too. Never mind, the right one will turn up sooner or later." "Yes," said Lupin, "the more pretty girls he sees the greater the chances are." "But perhaps you can't get the Shopman to the fair," said the ex-gendarme.
Monsieur Rigou," said Madame Soudry, in a mincing tone, "are women ever out of date?" "You may be right about Madame Sarcus; she doesn't paint before the glass," retorted Rigou, who was always disgusted by the exhibition of the Cochet's ancient charms. Madame Soudry, who thought she used only a "suspicion" of rouge, did not perceive the sarcasm and hastened to say:
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