sons of the soil-第40章
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sister; was two hundred thousand francs; not to speak of
〃expectations。〃 This functionary showed much sense; though not aware
of it; in falling in love with Mademoiselle Elise when he first
arrived at Ville…aux…Fayes; in 1819。 If it had not been for his social
position; which made him 〃eligible;〃 he would long ago have been
forced to ask for his exchange。 But Gaubertin in marrying him to his
daughter thought much more of the uncle; the general…secretary; than
of the nephew; and in return; the uncle; for the sake of his nephew;
gave all his influence to Gaubertin。
Thus the Church; the magistracy both removable and irremovable; the
municipality; and the prefecture; the four feet of power; walked as
the mayor pleased。 Let us now see how that functionary strengthened
himself in the spheres above and below that in which he worked。
The department to which Ville…aux…Fayes belongs is one the number of
whose population gives it the right to elect six deputies。 Ever since
the creation of the Left Centre of the Chamber; the arrondissement of
Ville…aux…Fayes had sent a deputy named Leclercq; formerly banking
agent of the wine department of the custom…house; a son…in…law of
Gaubertin; and now a governor of the Bank of France。 The number of
electors which this rich valley sent to the electoral college was
sufficient to insure; if only through private dealing; the constant
appointment of Monsieur de Ronquerolles; the patron of the Mouchon
family。 The voters of Ville…aux…Fayes lent their support to the
prefect; on condition that the Marquis de Ronquerolles was maintained
in the college。 Thus Gaubertin; who was the first to broach the idea
of this arrangement; was favorably received at the Prefecture; which
he often; in return; saved from petty annoyances。 The prefect always
selected three firm ministerialists; and two deputies of the Left
Centre。 The latter; one of them being the Marquis de Ronquerolles;
brother…in…law of the Comte de Serisy; and the other a governor of the
Bank of France; gave little or no alarm to the cabinet; and the
elections in this department were rated excellent at the ministry of
the interior。
The Comte de Soulanges; peer of France; selected to be the next
marshal; and faithful to the Bourbons; knew that his forests and other
property were all well…managed by the notary Lupin; and well…watched
by Soudry。 He was a patron of Gendrin's; having obtained his
appointment as judge partly by the help of Monsieur de Ronquerolles。
Messieurs Leclercq and de Ronquerolles sat in the Left Centre; but
nearer to the left than to the centre;a political position which
offers great advantages to those who regard their political conscience
as a garment。
The brother of Monsieur Leclercq had obtained the situation of
collector at Ville…aux…Fayes; and Leclercq himself; Gaubertin's son…
in…law; had lately bought a fine estate beyond the valley of the
Avonne; which brought him in a rental of thirty thousand francs; with
park and chateau and a controlling influence in its own canton。
Thus; in the upper regions of the State; in both Chambers; and in the
chief ministerial department; Gaubertin could rely on an influence
that was powerful and also active; and which he was careful not to
weary with unimportant requests。
The counsellor Gendrin; appointed judge by the Chamber; was the
leading spirit of the Supreme Court; for the chief justice; one of the
three ministerial deputies; left the management of it to Gendrin
during half the year。 The counsel for the Prefecture; a cousin of
Sarcus; called 〃Sarcus the rich;〃 was the right…hand man of the
prefect; himself a deputy。 Even without the family reasons which
allied Gaubertin and young des Lupeaulx; a brother of Madame Sarcus
would still have been desirable as sub…prefect to the arrondissement
of Ville…aux…Fayes。 Madame Sarcus; the counsellor's wife; was a Vallat
of Soulanges; a family connected with the Gaubertins; and she was said
to have 〃distinguished〃 the notary Lupin in her youth。 Though she was
now forty…five years old; with a son in the school of engineers; Lupin
never went to the Prefecture without paying his respects and dining
with her。
The nephew of Guerbet; the postmaster; whose father was; as we have
seen; collector of Soulanges; held the important situation of
examining judge in the municipal court of Ville…aux…Fayes。 The third
judge; son of Corbinet; the notary; belonged body and soul to the all…
powerful mayor; and; finally; young Vigor; son of the lieutenant of
the gendarmerie; was the substitute judge。
Sibilet's father; sheriff of the court; had married his sister to
Monsieur Vigor the lieutenant; and that individual; father of six
children; was cousin of the father of Gaubertin through his wife; a
Gaubertin…Vallat。 Eighteen months previously the united efforts of the
two deputies; Monsieur de Soulanges and Gaubertin; had created the
place of commissary of police for the sheriff's second son。
Sibilet's eldest daughter married Monsieur Herve; a school…master;
whose school was transformed into a college as a result of this
marriage; so that for the past year Soulanges had rejoiced in the
presence of a professor。
The sheriff's youngest son was employed on the government domains;
with the promise of succeeding the clerk of registrations so soon as
that officer had completed the term of service which enabled him to
retire on a pension。
The youngest Sibilet girl; now sixteen years old; was betrothed to
Corbinet; brother of the notary。 And an old maid; Mademoiselle
Gaubertin…Vallat; sister of Madame Sibilet; the sheriff's wife; held
the office for the sale of stamped paper。
Thus; wherever we turn in Ville…aux…Fayes we meet some member of the
invisible coalition; whose avowed chief; recognized as such by every
one; great and small; was the mayor of the town; the general agent for
the entire timber business; Gaubertin!
If we turn to the other end of the valley of the Avonne we shall see
that Gaubertin ruled at Soulanges through the Soudrys; through Lupin
the assistant mayor and steward of the Soulanges estate; who was
necessarily in constant communication with the Comte de Soulanges;
through Sarcus; justice of the peace; through Guerbet; the collector;
through Gourdon; the doctor; who had married a Gendrin…Vatebled。 He
governed Blangy through Rigou; Conches through the post…master; the
despotic ruler of his own district。
Gaubertin's influence was so great and powerful that even the
investments and the savings of Rigou; Soudry; Gendrin; Guerbet; Lupin;
even Sarcus the rich himself; were managed by his advice。 The town of
Ville…aux…Fayes believed implicitly in its mayor。 Gaubertin's ability
was not less extolled than his honesty and his kindness; he was the
servant of his relatives and constituents (always with an eye to a
return of benefits); and the whole municipality adored him。 The town
never ceased to blame Monsieur Mariotte; of Auxerre; for having
opposed and thwarted that worthy Monsieur Gaubertin。
Not aware of their strength; no occasion for displaying it having
arisen; the bourgeoisie of Ville…aux…Fayes contented themselves with
boasting that no strangers intermeddled in their affairs and they
believed themselves excellent citizens and faithful public servants。
Nothing; however; escaped their despotic rule; which in itself was not
perceived; the result being considered a triumph of the locality。
The only stranger in this family community was the government engineer
in the highway department; and his dismissal in favor of the son of
Sarcus the rich was now being pressed; with a fair chance that this
one weak thread in the net would soon be strengthened。 And yet this
powerful league; which monopolized all duties both public and private;
sucked the resources of the region; and fastened on power like limpets
to a ship; escaped all notice so completely that General Mo