sons of the soil-第66章
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voice； her pinched mouth； and her juvenile ways； when the Abbe Taupin
had related one of the tales of his repertory； when Lupin had told of
some event at Ville…aux…Fayes； and Madame Soudry had been deluged with
compliments ad nauseum； the company would say： 〃We have had a charming
game of boston。〃
Too self…indulgent to be at the trouble of driving over to the
Soudrys' merely to hear the vapid talk of its visitors and to see a
Parisian monkey in the guise of an old woman； Rigou； far superior in
intelligence and education to this petty society； never made his
appearance unless business brought him over to meet the notary。 He
excused himself from visiting on the ground of his occupations； his
habits； and his health； which latter did not allow him； he said； to
return at night along a road which led by the foggy banks of the
Thune。
The tall； stiff usurer always had an imposing effect upon Madame
Soudry's company； who instinctively recognized in his nature the
cruelty of the tiger with steel claws； the craft of a savage； the
wisdom of one born in a cloister and ripened by the sun of gold；a
man to whom Gaubertin had never yet been willing to fully commit
himself。
The moment the little green carriole and the bay horse passed the Cafe
de la Paix； Urbain； Soudry's man…servant； who was seated on a bench
under the dining…room windows； and was gossipping with the tavern…
keeper； shades his eyes with his hand to see who was coming。
〃It's Pere Rigou；〃 he said。 〃I must go round and open the door。 Take
his horse； Socquard。〃 And Urbain； a former trooper； who could not get
into the gendarmerie and had therefore taken service with Soudry； went
round the house to open the gates of the courtyard。
Socquard； a famous personage throughout the valley； was treated； as
you see； with very little ceremony by the valet。 But so it is with
many illustrious people who are so kind as to walk and to sneeze and
to sleep and to eat precisely like common mortals。
Socquard； born a Hercules； could carry a weight of eleven hundred
pounds； a blow of his fist applied on a man's back would break the
vertebral column in two； he could bend an iron bar； or hold back a
carriage drawn by one horse。 A Milo of Crotona in the valley； his fame
had spread throughout the department； where all sorts of foolish
stories were current about him； as about all celebrities。 It was told
how he had once carried a poor woman and her donkey and her basket on
his back to market； how he had been known to eat a whole ox and drink
the fourth of a hogshead of wine in one day； etc。 Gentle as a
marriageable girl； Socquard； who was a stout； short man； with a placid
face； broad shoulders； and a deep chest； where his lungs played like
the bellows of a forge； possessed a flute…like voice； the limpid tones
of which surprised all those who heard them for the first time。
Like Tonsard； whose renown released him from the necessity of giving
proofs of his ferocity； in fact； like all other men who are backed by
public opinion of one kind or another； Socquard never displayed his
extraordinary muscular force unless asked to do so by friends。 He now
took the horse as the usurer drew up at the steps of the portico。
〃Are you all well at home； Monsieur Rigou？〃 said the illustrious
innkeeper。
〃Pretty well； my good friend；〃 replied Rigou。 〃Do Plissoud and
Bonnebault and Viollet and Amaury still continue good customers？〃
This question； uttered in a tone of good…natured interest； was by no
means one of those empty speeches which superiors are apt to bestow
upon inferiors。 In his leisure moments Rigou thought over the smallest
details of 〃the affair；〃 and Fourchon had already warned him that
there was something suspicious in the intimacy between Plissoud；
Bonnebault； and the brigadier； Viollet。
Bonnebault； in payment of a few francs lost at cards； might very
likely tell the secrets he heard at Tonsard's to Viollet； or he might
let them out over his punch without realizing the importance of such
gossip。 But as the information of the old otter man might be
instigated by thirst； Rigou paid no attention except so far as it
concerned Plissoud； whose situation was likely to inspire him with a
desire to counteract the coalition against Les Aigues； if only to get
his paws greased by one or the other of the two parties。
Plissoud combined with his duties of under…sheriff other occupations
which were poorly remunerated； that of agent of insurance （a new form
of enterprise just beginning to show itself in France）； agent； also；
of a society providing against the chances of recruitment。 His
insufficient pay and a love of billiards and boiled wine made his
future doubtful。 Like Fourchon； he cultivated the art of doing
nothing； and expected his fortune through some lucky but problematic
chance。 He hated the leading society； but he had measured its power。
He alone knew the middle…class coalition organized by Gaubertin to its
depths； and he continued to sneer at the rich men of Soulanges and
Ville…aux…Fayes； as if he alone represented the opposition。 Without
money and not respected； he did not seem a person to be feared
professionally； and so Brunet； glad to have a despised competitor；
protected him and helped him along； to prevent him selling his
business to some eager young man； like Bonnac for instance； who might
force him； Brunet； to divide the patronage of the canton between them。
〃Thanks to those fellows； we keep the ball a…rolling；〃 said Socquard。
〃But folks are trying to imitate my boiled wine。〃
〃Sue them；〃 said Rigou； sententiously。
〃That would lead too far；〃 replied the innkeeper。
〃Do your clients get on well together？〃
〃Tolerably； yes； sometimes they'll have a row； but that's only natural
for players。〃
All heads were at the window of the Soudry salon which looked to the
square。 Recognizing the father of his daughter…in…law； Soudry came to
the portico to receive him。
〃Well； comrade；〃 said the mayor of Soulanges； 〃is Annette ill； that
you give us your company of an evening？〃
Through an old habit acquired in the gendarmerie Soudry always went
direct to the point。
〃No； There's trouble brewing；〃 replied Rigou； touching his right
fore…finger to the hand which Soudry held out to him。 〃I came to talk
about it； for it concerns our children in a way〃
Soudry； a handsome man dressed in blue； as though he were still a
gendarme； with a black collar； and spurs at his heels； took Rigou by
the arm and led him up to his imposing better…half。 The glass door to
the terrace was open； and the guests were walking about enjoying the
summer evening； which brought out the full beauty of the glorious
landscape which we have already described。
〃It is a long time since we have seen you； my dear Rigou；〃 said Madame
Soudry； taking the arm of the ex…Benedictine and leading him out upon
the terrace。
〃My digestion is so troublesome！〃 he replied； 〃see！ my color is almost
as high as yours。〃
Rigou's appearance on the terrace was the sign for an explosion of
jovial greetings on the part of the assembled company。
〃And how may the lord of Blangy be？〃 said little Sarcus； justice of
the peace。
〃Lord！〃 replied Rigou； bitterly； 〃I am not even cock of my own village
now。〃
〃The hens don't say so； scamp！〃 exclaimed Madame Soudry； tapping her
fan on his arm。
〃All well； my dear master？〃 said the notary； bowing to his chief
client。
〃Pretty well；〃 replied Rigou； again putting his fore…finger into his
interlocutor's hand。
This gesture； by which Rigou kept down the process of hand…shaking to
the coldest and stiffest of demonstrations would have revealed the
whole man to any observer who did not already know him。
〃Let us find a corner where we can talk quietly；〃 said the ex…monk；
looking at Lupin and at Madame Soudry。
〃Let us return to the salon；〃 replied the queen。
〃What
