按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
might well have taken him for a god； and if he was beaten on the field of Waterloo； it was because he was more than mortal； it was because the earth found his weight too heavy to bear； and sprang from under his feet！ On every other subject I entirely agree with you； and tonnerre de Dieu！ whoever hatched you did a good day's work。〃
〃Come；〃 exclaimed Benassis with a smile； 〃let us sit down to dinner。〃
The walls of the dining…room were paneled from floor to ceiling； and painted gray。 The furniture consisted of a few straw…bottomed chairs； a sideboard； some cupboards； a stove； and the late owner's celebrated clock； there were white curtains in the window； and a white cloth on the table； about which there was no sign of luxury。 The dinner service was of plain white earthenware； the soup； made after the traditions of the late cure； was the most concentrated kind of broth that was ever set to simmer by any mortal cook。 The doctor and his guest had scarcely finished it when a man rushed into the kitchen； and in spite of Jacquotte； suddenly invaded the dining…room。
〃Well； what is it？〃 asked the doctor。
〃It is this； sir。 The mistress； our Mme。 Vigneau； has turned as white as white can be； so that we are frightened about her。〃
〃Oh； well； then；〃 Benassis said cheerfully； 〃I must leave the table；〃 and he rose to go。
In spite of the doctor's entreaties； Genestas flung down his table… napkin； and swore in a soldierly fashion that he would not finish his dinner without his host。 He returned indeed to the salon； and as he warmed himself by the fire； he thought over the troubles that no man may escape； the troubles that are found in every lot that it falls to man to endure here upon earth。
Benassis soon came back； and the two future friends sat down again。
〃Taboureau has just come up to speak to you；〃 said Jacquotte to her master； as she brought in the dishes that she had kept hot for them。
〃Who can be ill at his place？〃 asked the doctor。
〃No one is ill； sir。 I think from what he said that it is some matter of his own that he wants to ask you about； he is coming back again。〃
〃Very good。 This Taboureau；〃 Benassis went on； addressing Genestas； 〃is for me a whole philosophical treatise； take a good look at him when he comes； he is sure to amuse you。 He was a laborer； a thrifty； hard…working man； eating little and getting through a good deal of work。 As soon as the rogue came to have a few crowns of his own； his intelligence began to develop； he watched the progress which I had originated in this little district with an eye to his own profit。 He had made quite a fortune in eight year's time； that is to say； a fortune for our part of the world。 Very likely he may have a couple of score thousand francs by now。 But if I were to give you a thousand guesses； you would never find out how he made the money。 He is a usurer； and his scheme of usury is so profoundly and so cleverly based upon the requirements of the whole canton； that I should merely waste my time if I were to take it upon myself to undeceive them as to the benefits which they reap； in their own opinion； from their dealings with Taboureau。 When this devil of a fellow saw every one cultivating his own plot of ground； he hurried about buying grain so as to supply the poor with the requisite seed。 Here； as everywhere else； the peasants and even some of the farmers had no ready money with which to pay for seed。 To some； Master Taboureau would lend a sack of barley； for which he was to receive a sack of rye at harvest time； and to others a measure of wheat for a sack of four。 At the present day the man has extended this curious business of his all over the department； and unless something happens to prevent him； he will go on and very likely make a million。 Well； my dear sir； Taboureau the laborer； an obliging； hard…working； good…natured fellow； used to lend a helping hand to any one who asked him； but as his gains have increased MONSIEUR Taboureau has become litigious； arrogant； and somewhat given to sharp practice。 The more money he makes； the worse he grows。 The moment that the peasant forsakes his life of toil pure and simple for the leisured existence of the landowning classes； he becomes intolerable。 There is a certain kind of character； partly virtuous； partly vicious； half…educated； half…ignorant； which will always be the despair of governments。 You will see an example of it in Taboureau。 He looks simple； and even doltish； but when his interests are in question； he is certainly profoundly clever。〃
A heavy footstep announced the approach of the grain lender。
〃Come in； Taboureau！〃 cried Benassis。
Thus forewarned by the doctor； the commandant scrutinized the peasant in the doorway。 Taboureau was decidedly thin； and stooped a little。 He had a bulging forehead； covered with wrinkles； and a cavernous face； in which two small gray eyes with a dark spot in either of them seemed to be pierced rather than set。 The lines of the miser's mouth were close and firm； and his narrow chin turned up to meet an exaggeratedly hooked nose。 His hair was turning gray already； and deep furrows which converged above the prominent cheek…bones spoke of the wily shrewdness of a horse…dealer and of a life spent in journeying about。 He wore a blue coat in fairly clean condition； the square side…pocket flaps stuck out above his hips； and the skirts of the coats hung loose in front； so that a white…flowered waistcoat was visible。 There he stood firmly planted on both feet； leaning upon a thick stick with a knob at the end of it。 A little spaniel had followed the grain…dealer； in spite of Jacquotte's efforts； and was crouching beside him。
〃Well； what is it？〃 Benassis asked as he turned to this being。
Taboureau gave a suspicious glance at the stranger seated at the doctor's table； and said：
〃It is not a case of illness； M。 le Maire； but you understand how to doctor the ailments of the purse just as well as those of the body。 We have had a little difficulty with a man over at Saint…Laurent； and I have come to ask your advice about it。〃
〃Why not see the justice of the peace or his clerk？〃
〃Oh； because you are so much cleverer； sir； and I shall feel more sure about my case if I can have your countenance。〃
〃My good Taboureau； I am willing to give medical advice to the poor without charging for it； but I cannot look into the lawsuits of a man who is as wealthy as you are for nothing。 It costs a good deal to acquire that kind of knowledge。〃
Taboureau began to twist his hat about。
〃If you want my advice； in order to save the hard coin you would have to pay to the lawyer folk over in Grenoble； you must send a bag of rye to the widow Martin； the woman who is bringing up the charity children。〃
〃DAME！ I will do it with all my heart； sir； if you think it necessary。 Can I talk about this business of mine without troubling the gentleman there？〃 he added； with a look at Genestas。
The doctor nodded； so Taboureau went on。
〃Well； then； sir； two months ago a man from Saint…Laurent came over here to find me。 'Taboureau；' said he to me； 'could you sell me a hundred and thirty…seven measures of barley？' 'Why not？' say I； 'that is my trade。 Do you want it immediately？' 'No；' he says； 'I want it for the beginning of spring； in March。' So far； so good。 Well； we drive our bargain； and we drink a glass； and we agree that he is to pay me the price that the barley fetched at Grenoble last market day； and I am to deliver it in March。 I am to warehouse it at owner's risk； and no allowance for shrinkage of course。 But barley goes up and up； my dear sir； the barley rises like boiling milk。 Then I am hard up for money； and I sell my barley。 Quite natural； sir； was it not？〃
〃No；〃 said Benassis； 〃the barley had passed out of your possession； you were only warehousing it。 And suppose the barley had gone down in value； would you not have compelled your buyer to take it at the price you agreed upon？〃
〃But very likely he would not have paid me； sir。 One must look out for oneself！ The seller ought to make a good profit when the chance comes in his way； and； after； all the goods are not yours until you have paid for them。 That is so； Monsieur l'Officier； is it not？ For you can see that the gentleman has been in the army。〃
〃Taboureau；〃 Benassis said sternly； 〃ill luck will come to you。 Sooner or later God punishes ill deeds。 How can you； knowing as much as you do； a capable man moreover； and a man who conducts his business honorably； set examples of dishonesty to the canton？ If you allow such proceedings as this to be taken against you； how can you expect that the poor will remain honest people and will not rob you？ Your laborers will cheat you out of part of their working hours； and every one here will be demoralized。 You are in the wrong。 Your barley was as good as delivered。 If the man from Saint…Laurent had fetched it himself； you would not have gone there to take it away from him； you have sold something that was no longer yours to sell； for your barley had already been turned into money which was to be paid down at the stipulated time。 But go on。〃
Genestas gave the doctor a significant glance； to call his attention to Taboureau's impassive countenance。 Not a muscle had stirred in the u