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Updated: June 10, 2025
You peasants will have to bear everything, for the Shopman will always get the better of you " "We shall glean," said Vaudoyer, in that determined tone which characterizes Burgundians. "Without a certificate of pauperism?" asked the usurer. "They say the Shopman has gone to the Prefecture to ask for troops so as to force you to keep the law."
Vaudoyer, the displaced keeper, a peasant on the Ronquerolles estate, was only fit, like most field-keepers, to stalk about, and gossip, and let himself be petted by the poor of the district, who asked nothing better than to corrupt at subaltern authority, the advanced guard, as it were, of the land-owners.
The news circulated rapidly; and those whom it chiefly interested were much surprised to learn from others, who lived on high ground, that a detachment commanded by the lieutenant of Ville-aux-Fayes had marched through the forest of Les Aigues. Vaudoyer, Courtecuisse, Tonsard and his family, Godain, and an old vine-dresser named Laroche, were there early in the morning.
Slip the bolts of the door, my lad; tell my wife to bring my coffee and the liqueurs, and tell Jean to harness up. I'm off to Soulanges; will see you to-night! Ah! Vaudoyer, good afternoon," said the late mayor as his former field-keeper entered the room. "What's the news?"
When the worthy man had gone down the steps a movement of relief and satisfaction passed through the assembled drinkers which would have told whoever watched them that each man in that company felt he was rid of the living image of his own conscience. "Well, what do you say to all that, hey, Courtecuisse?" asked Vaudoyer, who had just come in, and to whom Tonsard had related Vatel's attempt.
"Come, Vaudoyer," said Tonsard, "go and see Rigou, and then we shall know what to do; he's our oracle, and his spittle doesn't cost anything." "Another folly!" said Jean-Louis, in a low voice, "Rigou betrays everybody; Annette tells me so; she says he's more dangerous when he listens to you than other folks are when they bluster." "I advise you to be cautious," said Langlume.
"Oh! by killing a man; but I prefer to live." "Hold your tongue. Vaudoyer will give us five hundred francs if you will let him catch your mother at a tree." "I'd rather kill a man than sell my mother. There's your old grandmother; why don't you sell her?" "If I tried to, my father would get angry and stop the trick." "That's true. Well, anyhow, my mother sha'n't go to prison, poor old thing!
"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.
Vaudoyer related the talk which had just taken place at the tavern, and asked Rigou's opinion as to the legality of the rules which the general thought of enforcing. "He has the law with him," said Rigou, curtly. "We have a hard landlord; the Abbe Brossette is a malignant priest; he advises all such measures because you don't go to mass, you miserable unbelievers. I go; there's a God, I tell you.
Courtecuisse and Vaudoyer had brought their guns to accompany the bride. The neighborhood was otherwise fast asleep; not a light was to be seen; none but the wedding party were awake, but they made noise enough. In the midst of it the old Bonnebault woman entered, and every one looked at her. "I think she is going to lie-in," she whispered in Tonsard's ear.
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