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The new proprietor came only three times to Gondreville in the course
of seven years。 His grandfather had been bailiff of the estate under
the Simeuse family； and all Arcis took for granted that the citizen
Marion was the secret representative of the present Marquis and his
twin brother。 As long as the Terror lasted； Michu； still bailiff of
Gondreville； a devoted patriot； son…in…law of the president of the
revolutionary tribunal of Troyes and flattered by Malin；
representative from the department of the Aube； was the object of a
certain sort of respect。 But when the Mountain was overthrown and
after his father…in…law committed suicide； he found himself a scape…
goat； everybody hastened to accuse him； in common with his father…in…
law； of acts to which； so far as he was concerned； he was a total
stranger。 The bailiff resented the injustice of the community； he
stiffened his back and took an attitude of hostility。 He talked
boldly。 But after the 18th Brumaire he maintained an unbroken silence；
the philosophy of the strong； he struggled no longer against public
opinion； and contented himself with attending to his own affairs；
wise conduct； which led his neighbors to pronounce him sly； for he
owned； it was said； a fortune of not less than a hundred thousand
francs in landed property。 In the first place； he spent nothing； next；
this property was legitimately acquired； partly from the inheritance
of his father…in…law's estate； and partly from the savings of six…
thousand francs a year； the salary he derived from his place with its
profits and emoluments。 He had been bailiff of Gondreville for the
last twelve years and every one had estimated the probable amount of
his savings； so that when； after the Consulate was proclaimed； he
bought a farm for fifty thousand francs； the suspicions attaching to
his former opinions lessened； and the community of Arcis gave him
credit for intending to recover himself in public estimation。
Unfortunately； at the very moment when public opinion was condoning
his past a foolish affair； envenomed by the gossip of the country…
side； revived the latent and very general belief in the ferocity of
his character。
One evening； coming away from Troyes in company with several peasants；
among whom was the farmer at Cinq…Cygne； he let fall a paper on the
main road； the farmer； who was walking behind him； stooped and picked
it up。 Michu turned round； saw the paper in the man's hands； pulled a
pistol from his belt and threatened the farmer （who knew how to read）
to blow his brains out if he opened the paper。 Michu's action was so
sudden and violent； the tone of his voice so alarming； his eyes blazed
so savagely； that the men about him turned cold with fear。 The farmer
of Cinq…Cygne was already his enemy。 Mademoiselle de Cinq…Cygne； the
man's employer； was a cousin of the Simeuse brothers； she had only one
farm left for her maintenance and was now residing at her chateau of
Cinq…Cygne。 She lived for her cousins the twins； with whom she had
played in childhood at Troyes and at Gondreville。 Her only brother；
Jules de Cinq…Cygne； who emigrated before the twins； died at Mayence；
but by a privilege which was somewhat rare and will be mentioned
later； the name of Cinq…Cygne was not to perish through lack of male
heirs。
This affair between Michu and the farmer made a great noise in the
arrondissement and darkened the already mysterious shadows which
seemed to veil him。 Nor was it the only circumstance which made him
feared。 A few months after this scene the citizen Marion； present
owner of the Gondreville estate； came to inspect it with the citizen
Malin。 Rumor said that Marion was about to sell the property to his
companion； who had profited by political events and had just been
appointed on the Council of State by the First Consul； in return for
his services on the 18th Brumaire。 The shrewd heads of the little town
of Arcis now perceived that Marion had been the agent of Malin in the
purchase of the property； and not of the brothers Simeuse； as was
first supposed。 The all…powerful Councillor of State was the most
important personage in Arcis。 He had obtained for one of his political
friends the prefecture of Troyes； and for a farmer at Gondreville the
exemption of his son from the draft； in fact； he had done services to
many。 Consequently； the sale met with no opposition in the
neighborhood where Malin then reigned； and where he still reigns
supreme。
The Empire was just dawning。 Those who in these days read the
histories of the French Revolution can form no conception of the vast
spaces which public thought traversed between events which now seem to
have been so near together。 The strong need of peace and tranquillity
which every one felt after the violent tumults of the Revolution
brought about a complete forgetfulness of important anterior facts。
History matured rapidly under the advance of new and eager interests。
No one； therefore； except Michu； looked into the past of this affair；
which the community accepted as a simple matter。 Marion； who had
bought Gondreville for six hundred thousand francs in assignats； sold
it for the value of a couple of million in coin； but the only payments
actually made by Malin were for the costs of registration。 Grevin； a
seminary comrade of Malin； assisted the transaction； and the
Councillor rewarded his help with the office of notary at Arcis。 When
the news of the sale reached the pavilion； brought there by a farmer
whose farm； at Grouage； was situated between the forest and the park
on the left of the noble avenue； Michu turned pale and left the house。
He lay in wait for Marion； and finally met him alone in one of the
shrubberies of the park。
〃Is monsieur about to sell Gondreville？〃 asked the bailiff。
〃Yes； Michu； yes。 You will have a man of powerful influence for your
master。 He is the friend of the First Consul； and very intimate with
all the ministers； he will protect you。〃
〃Then you were holding the estate for him？〃
〃I don't say that；〃 replied Marion。 〃At the time I bought it I was
looking for a place to put my money； and I invested in national
property as the best security。 But it doesn't suit me to keep an
estate once belonging to a family in which my father was〃
〃a servant；〃 said Michu； violently。 〃But you shall not sell it！ I
want it； and I can pay for it。〃
〃You？〃
〃Yes； I； seriously； in good gold；eight hundred thousand francs。〃
〃Eight hundred thousand francs！〃 exclaimed Marion。 〃Where did you get
them？〃
〃That's none of your business；〃 replied Michu； then； softening his
tone； he added in a low voice： 〃My father…in…law saved the lives of
many persons。〃
〃You are too late； Michu； the sale is made。〃
〃You must put it off； monsieur！〃 cried the bailiff； seizing his master
by the hand which he held as in a vice。 〃I am hated； but I choose to
be rich and powerful； and I must have Gondreville。 Listen to me； I
don't cling to life； sell me that place or I'll blow your brains
out！〃
〃But do give me time to get off my bargain with Malin； he's
troublesome to deal with。〃
〃I'll give you twenty…four hours。 If you say a word about this matter
I'll chop your h