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Tourangian mind；a mind polished and refined as it should be in a
land where the kings of France long held their court； ardent；
artistic； poetic； voluptuous； yet whose first impulses subside
quickly。 The softness of the atmosphere； the beauty of the climate； a
certain ease of life and joviality of manners； smother before long the
sentiment of art； narrow the widest heart； and enervate the strongest
will。 Transplant the Tourangian； and his fine qualities develop and
lead to great results； as we may see in many spheres of action： look
at Rabelais and Semblancay； Plantin the printer and Descartes；
Boucicault； the Napoleon of his day； and Pinaigrier； who painted most
of the colored glass in our cathedrals； also Verville and Courier。 But
the Tourangian； distinguished though he may be in other regions； sits
in his own home like an Indian on his mat or a Turk on his divan。 He
employs his wit in laughing at his neighbor and in making merry all
his days； and when at last he reaches the end of his life； he is still
a happy man。 Touraine is like the Abbaye of Theleme； so vaunted in the
history of Gargantua。 There we may find the complying sisterhoods of
that famous tale； and there the good cheer celebrated by Rabelais
reigns in glory。
As to the do…nothingness of that blessed land it is sublime and well
expressed in a certain popular legend： 〃Tourangian； are you hungry； do
you want some soup？〃 〃Yes。〃 〃Bring your porringer。〃 〃Then I am not
hungry。〃 Is it to the joys of the vineyard and the harmonious
loveliness of this garden land of France； is it to the peace and
tranquillity of a region where the step of an invader has never
trodden； that we owe the soft compliance of these unconstrained and
easy manners？ To such questions no answer。 Enter this Turkey of sunny
France； and you will stay there；lazy； idle； happy。 You may be as
ambitious as Napoleon； as poetic as Lord Byron； and yet a power
unknown； invisible； will compel you to bury your poetry within your
soul and turn your projects into dreams。
The illustrious Gaudissart was fated to encounter here in Vouvray one
of those indigenous jesters whose jests are not intolerable solely
because they have reached the perfection of the mocking art。 Right or
wrong； the Tourangians are fond of inheriting from their parents。
Consequently the doctrines of Saint…Simon were especially hated and
villified among them。 In Touraine hatred and villification take the
form of superb disdain and witty maliciousness worthy of the land of
good stories and practical jokes；a spirit which； alas！ is yielding；
day by day； to that other spirit which Lord Byron has characterized as
〃English cant。〃
For his sins； after getting down at the Soleil d'Or； an inn kept by a
former grenadier of the imperial guard named Mitouflet； married to a
rich widow； the illustrious traveller； after a brief consultation with
the landlord； betook himself to the knave of Vouvray； the jovial
merry…maker； the comic man of the neighborhood； compelled by fame and
nature to supply the town with merriment。 This country Figaro was once
a dyer； and now possessed about seven or eight thousand francs a year；
a pretty house on the slope of the hill； a plump little wife； and
robust health。 For ten years he had had nothing to do but take care of
his wife and his garden； marry his daughter； play whist in the
evenings； keep the run of all the gossip in the neighborhood； meddle
with the elections； squabble with the large proprietors； and order
good dinners； or else trot along the embankment to find out what was
going on in Tours； torment the cure； and finally； by way of dramatic
entertainment； assist at the sale of lands in the neighborhood of his
vineyards。 In short； he led the true Tourangian life；the life of a
little country…townsman。 He was； moreover； an important member of the
bourgeoisie；a leader among the small proprietors； all of them
envious； jealous； delighted to catch up and retail gossip and
calumnies against the aristocracy； dragging things down to their own
level； and at war with all kinds of superiority； which they deposited
with the fine composure of ignorance。 Monsieur Verniersuch was the
name of this great little manwas just finishing his breakfast； with
his wife and daughter on either side of him； when Gaudissart entered
the room through a window that looked out on the Loire and the Cher；
and lighted one of the gayest dining…rooms of that gay land。
〃Is this Monsieur Vernier himself？〃 said the traveller； bending his
vertebral column with such grace that it seemed to be elastic。
〃Yes； Monsieur；〃 said the mischievous ex…dyer； with a scrutinizing
look which took in the style of man he had to deal with。
〃I come； Monsieur；〃 resumed Gaudissart； 〃to solicit the aid of your
knowledge and insight to guide my efforts in this district； where
Mitouflet tells me you have the greatest influence。 Monsieur； I am
sent into the provinces on an enterprise of the utmost importance；
undertaken by bankers who〃
〃Who mean to win our tricks；〃 said Vernier； long used to the ways of
commercial travellers and to their periodical visits。
〃Precisely；〃 replied Gaudissart； with native impudence。 〃But with your
fine tact； Monsieur； you must be aware that we can't win tricks from
people unless it is their interest to play at cards。 I beg you not to
confound me with the vulgar herd of travellers who succeed by humbug
or importunity。 I am no longer a commercial traveller。 I was one； and
I glory in it； but to…day my mission is of higher importance； and
should place me； in the minds of superior people； among those who
devote themselves to the enlightenment of their country。 The most
distinguished bankers in Paris take part in this affair； not
fictitiously； as in some shameful speculations which I call rat…traps。
No； no； nothing of the kind！ I should never condescendnever！to
hawk about such CATCH…FOOLS。 No； Monsieur； the most respectable houses
in Paris are concerned in this enterprise； and their interests
guarantee〃
Hereupon Gaudissart drew forth his whole string of phrases； and
Monsieur Vernier let him go the length of his tether； listening with
apparent interest which completely deceived him。 But after the word
〃guarantee〃 Vernier paid no further attention to our traveller's
rhetoric； and turned over in his mind how to play him some malicious
trick and deliver a land； justly considered half…savage by speculators
unable to get a bite of it； from the inroads of these Parisian
caterpillars。
At the head of an enchanting valley； called the Valley Coquette
because of its windings and the curves which return upon each other at
every step； and seem more and more lovely as we advance； whether we
ascend or descend them； there lived； in a little house surrounded by
vineyards； a half…insane man named Margaritis。 He was of Italian
origin； married； but childless； and his wife took care of him with a
courage fully appreciated by the neighborhood。 Madame Margaritis was
undoubtedly in real danger from a man who； among other fancies；
persisted in carrying about with him two long…bladed knives with which
he sometimes threatened her。 Who has not seen the wonderful self…
devotion shown by provincials who consecrate their lives to the care
of sufferers； possibly because of the disgrace heaped upon a
bourgeoise if she allows her husband or children to be taken to a
public hospital？ Moreover； who does not know the repugnance which
these people feel to the payment of the two or three thousand francs
required at Charenton or in the private lunatic asylums？ If any one
had spoken to Madame Margaritis of Doctors Dubuisson； Esquirol；
Blanche； and others； she would have preferred； with noble indignation；
to keep her thousands and take care of the 〃good…man〃 at home。
As the incomprehensible whims of this lunatic are connected with the
current of our story； we are compelled to exhibit the most striking of
them。 Margaritis went out as soon as it rained； and walked about bare…
headed in his vineyard。 At home he made incessant inquiries for
newspapers； to satisfy him his wife and the maid…servant used to give
him an old journal called the 〃Indre…et…Loire；〃 and for seven years he
had never yet perceived that he was reading the same number over and
over again。 Perhaps a doctor would have observed with interest the
connection that evidently existed between the recurring and spasmodic
demands for the newspaper and the atmospheric variations of the
weather。
Usually when his wife had company； which happened nearly every
evening； for the neighbors； pitying her situation； would frequently
come to play at boston in her salon； Margaritis remained silent in a
corner and never stirred。 But the moment ten o'clock began to strike
on a clock which he kept shut up in a large oblong closet； he rose at
the stroke with the mechanical precision of the figures which are made
to move by springs i