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troublesome to deal with。〃
〃I'll give you twenty…four hours。 If you say a word about this matter
I'll chop your head off as I would chop a turnip。〃
Marion and Malin left the chateau in the course of the night。 Marion
was frightened； he told Malin of the meeting and begged him to keep an
eye on the bailiff。 It was impossible for Marion to avoid delivering
the property to the man who had been the real purchaser； and Michu did
not seem likely to admit any such reason。 Moreover； this service done
by Marion to Malin was to be； and in fact ended by being； the origin
of the former's political fortune； and also that of his brother。 In
1806 Malin had him appointed chief justice of an imperial court； and
after the creation of tax…collectors his brother obtained the post of
receiver…general for the department of the Aube。 The State Councillor
told Marion to stay in Paris； and he warned the minister of police；
who gave orders that Michu should be secretly watched。 Not wishing to
push the man to extremes； Malin kept him on as bailiff； under the iron
rule of Grevin the notary of Arcis。
From that moment Michu became more absorbed and taciturn than ever；
and obtained the reputation of a man who was capable of committing a
crime。 Malin； the Councillor of State （a function which the First
Consul raised to the level of a ministry）； and a maker of the Code；
played a great part in Paris； where he bought one of the finest
mansions in the Faubuorg Saint…Germain after marrying the only
daughter of a rich contractor named Sibuelle。 He never came to
Gondreville； leaving all matters concerning the property to the
management of Grevin； the Arcis notary。 After all； what had he to
fear？he； a former representative of the Aube； and president of a
club of Jacobins。 And yet； the unfavorable opinion of Michu held by
the lower classes was shared by the bourgeoisie； and Marion； Grevin；
and Malin； without giving any reason or compromising themselves on the
subject； showed that they regarded him as an extremely dangerous man。
The authorities； who were under instructions from the minister of
police to watch the bailiff； did not of course lessen this belief。 The
neighborhood wondered that he kept his place； but supposed it was in
consequence of the terror he inspired。 It is easy now； after these
explanations； to understand the anxiety and sadness expressed in the
face of Michu's wife。
In the first place； Marthe had been piously brought up by her mother。
Both； being good Catholics； had suffered much from the opinions and
behavior of the tanner。 Marthe could never think without a blush of
having marched through the street of Troyes in the garb of a goddess。
Her father had forced her to marry Michu； whose bad reputation was
then increasing； and she feared him too much to be able to judge him。
Nevertheless； she knew that he loved her； and at the bottom of her
heart lay the truest affection for this awe…inspiring man； she had
never known him to do anything that was not just； never did he say a
brutal word； to her at least； in fact； he endeavored to forestall her
every wish。 The poor pariah； believing himself disagreeable to his
wife； spent most of his time out of doors。 Marthe and Michu；
distrustful of each other； lived in what is called in these days an
〃armed peace。〃 Marthe； who saw no one； suffered keenly from the
ostracism which for the last seven years had surrounded her as the
daughter of a revolutionary butcher； and the wife of a so…called
traitor。 More than once she had overheard the laborers of the
adjoining farm （held by a man named Beauvisage； greatly attached to
the Simeuse family） say as they passed the pavilion； 〃That's where
Judas lives！〃 The singular resemblance between the bailiff's head and
that of the thirteenth apostle； which his conduct appeared to carry
out； won him that odious nickname throughout the neighborhood。 It was
this distress of mind； added to vague but constant fears for the
future； which gave Marthe her thoughtful and subdued air。 Nothing
saddens so deeply as unmerited degradation from which there seems no
escape。 A painter could have made a fine picture of this family of
pariahs in the bosom of their pretty nook in Champagne； where the
landscape is generally sad。
〃Francois！〃 called the bailiff； to hasten his son。
Francois Michu； a child of ten； played in the park and forest； and
levied his little tithes like a master； he ate the fruits； he chased
the game； he at least had neither cares nor troubles。 Of all the
family； Francois alone was happy in a home thus isolated from the
neighborhood by its position between the park and the forest； and by
the still greater moral solitude of universal repulsion。
〃Pick up these things；〃 said his father； pointing to the parapet； 〃and
put them away。 Look at me！ You love your father and your mother； don't
you？〃 The child flung himself on his father as if to kiss him； but
Michu made a movement to shift the gun and pushed him back。 〃Very
good。 You have sometimes chattered about things that are done here；〃
continued the father； fixing his eyes； dangerous as those of a wild…
cat； on the boy。 〃Now remember this； if you tell the least little
thing that happens here to Gaucher； or to the Grouage and Bellache
people； or even to Marianne who loves us； you will kill your father。
Never tattle again； and I will forgive what you said yesterday。〃 The
child began to cry。 〃Don't cry； but when any one questions you； say；
as the peasants do； 'I don't know。' There are persons roaming about
whom I distrust。 Run along！ As for you two；〃 he added； turning to the
women； 〃you have heard what I said。 Keep a close mouth； both of you。〃
〃Husband； what are you going to do？〃
Michu； who was carefully measuring a charge of powder； poured it into
the barrel of his gun； rested the weapon against the parapet and said
to Marthe：
〃No one knows I own that gun。 Stand in front of it。〃
Couraut； who had sprung to his feet； was barking furiously。
〃Good； intelligent fellow！〃 cried Michu。 〃I am certain there are spies
about〃
Man and beast feel a spy。 Couraut and Michu； who seemed to have one
and the same soul； lived together as the Arab and his horse in the
desert。 The bailiff knew the modulations of the dog's voice； just as
the dog read his master's meaning in his eyes； or felt it exhaling in
the air from his body。
〃What do you say to that？〃 said Michu； in a low voice； calling his
wife's attention to two strangers who appeared in a by…path making for
the /rond…point/。
〃What can it mean？〃 cried the old mother。 〃They are Parisians。〃
〃Here they come！〃 said Michu。 〃Hide my gun；〃 he whispered to his wife。
The two men who now crossed the wide open space of the /rond…point/
were typical enough for a painter。 One； who appeared to be the
subaltern； wore top…boots； turned down rather low； showing well…made
calves； and colored silk stockings of doubtful cleanliness。 The
breeches； of ribbed cloth； apricot color with metal buttons； were too
large； they were baggy about the body； and the lines of their creases
seemed to indicate a sedentary man。 A marseilles waistcoat； overloaded
with embroidery； open； and held together by o