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an intelligent young man； who afterwards contributed much to the
prosperity of the district。
Old Clousier's personal appearance was remarkable for a broad； high
forehead and two bushes of white hair which stood out from his head on
either side of it。 His highly colored complexion and well…developed
corpulence might have made persons think； in spite of his actual
sobriety； that he cultivated Bacchus as well as Troplong and Toullier。
His half…extinct voice was the sign of an oppressive asthma。 Perhaps
the dry air of Montegnac had contributed to fix him there。 He lived in
a house arranged for him by a well…to…do cobbler to whom it belonged。
Clousier had already seen Veronique at church； and he had formed his
opinion of her without communicating it to any one； not even to
Monsieur Bonnet； with whom he was beginning to be intimate。 For the
first time in his life the /juge de paix/ was to be thrown in with
persons able to appreciate him。
When the company were seated round a table handsomely appointed （for
Veronique had sent all her household belongings from Limoges to
Montegnac） the six guests felt a momentary embarrassment。 The doctor；
the mayor and the /juge de paix/ knew nothing of Grossetete and
Gerard。 But during the first course； old Grossetete's hearty good…
humor broke the ice of a first meeting。 In addition to this； Madame
Graslin's cordiality led on Gerard； and encouraged Roubaud。 Under her
touch these souls full of fine qualities recognized their relation；
and felt they had entered a sympathetic circle。 So； by the time the
dessert appeared on the table； when the glass and china with gilded
edges sparkled； and the choicer wines were served by Aline and
Champion and Grossetete's valet； the conversation became sufficiently
confidential to allow these four choice minds； thus meeting by chance；
to express their real thoughts on matters of importance； such as men
like to discuss when they can do so and be sure of the discretion of
their companions。
〃Your furlough came just in time to let you witness the revolution of
July；〃 said Grossetete to Gerard； with an air as if he asked an
opinion of him。
〃Yes；〃 replied the engineer。 〃I was in Paris during the three famous
days。 I saw all； and I came to sad conclusions。〃
〃What were they？〃 said the rector； eagerly。
〃There is no longer any patriotism except under dirty shirts；〃 replied
Gerard。 〃In that lies the ruin of France！ July was the voluntary
defeat of all superiorities；name； fortune； talent。 The ardent；
devoted masses carried the day against the rich and the intelligent；
to whom ardor and devotion are repugnant。〃
〃To judge by what has happened during the past year；〃 said Monsieur
Clousier； 〃this change of government is simply a premium given to an
evil that is sapping us；individualism。 Fifteen years hence all
questions of a generous nature will be met by； /What is that to me？/
the great cry of Freedom of Will descending from the religious heights
where Luther； Calvin； Zwinglius； and Knox introduced it； into even
political economy。 /Every one for himself/； /every man his own
master/；those two terrible axioms form； with the /What is that to
me？/ a trinity of wisdom to the burgher and the small land…owner。 This
egotism results from the vices of our present civil legislation （too
hastily made）； to which the revolution of July has just given a
terrible confirmation。〃
The /juge de paix/ fell back into his usual silence after thus
expressing himself； but the topics he suggested must have occupied the
minds of those present。 Emboldened by Clousier's words； and moved by
the look which Gerard exchanged with Grossetete； Monsieur Bonnet
ventured to go further。
〃The good King Charles X。；〃 he said； 〃has just failed in the most far…
sighted and salutary enterprise a monarch ever planned for the welfare
of the people confided to him； and the Church ought to feel proud of
the part she took in his councils。 But the upper classes deserted him
in heart and mind； just as they had already deserted him on the great
question of the law of primogeniture；the lasting honor of the only
bold statesman the Restoration has produced； namely； the Comte de
Peyronnet。 To reconstitute the nation through the family； to take from
the press its venomous action and confine it to its real usefulness；
to recall the elective Chamber to its true functions； and to restore
to religion its power over the people；such were the four cardinal
points of the internal policy of the house of Bourbon。 Well； twenty
years from now all France will have recognized the necessity of that
grand and sound policy。 Charles X。 was in greater peril in the
situation he chose to leave than in that in which his paternal power
has been defeated。 The future of our noble countrywhere all things
will henceforth be brought periodically into question； where our
rulers will discuss incessantly instead of acting； where the press；
become a sovereign power； will be the instrument of base ambitions
this future will only prove the wisdom of the king who has just
carried away with him the true principles of government； and history
will bear in mind the courage with which he resisted his best friends
after having probed the wound and seen the necessity of curative
measures； which were not sustained by those for whose sake he put
himself into the breach。〃
〃Ah！ monsieur；〃 cried Gerard； 〃you are frank； you go straight to your
thought without disguise； and I won't contradict you。 Napoleon in his
Russian campaign was forty years in advance of the spirit of his age；
he was never understood。 The Russia and England of 1830 explains the
campaign of 1812。 Charles X。 has been misunderstood in the same way。
It is quite possible that in twenty…five years from now his ordinances
may become the laws of the land。〃
〃France； too eloquent not to gabble； too full of vanity to bow down
before real talent； is； in spite of the sublime good sense of its
language and the mass of its people； the very last nation in which two
deliberative chambers should have been attempted；〃 said the /juge de
paix/。 〃Or； at any rate； the weaknesses of our national character
should have been guarded against by the admirable restrictions which
Napoleon's experience laid upon them。 Our present system may succeed
in a country whose action is circumscribed by the nature of its soil；
like England； but the law of primogeniture applied to the transmission
of land is absolutely necessary； when that law is suppressed the
system of legislative representation becomes absurd。 England owes her
existence to the quasi…feudal law which entails landed property and
family mansions on the eldest son。 Russia is based on the feudal right
of autocracy。 Consequently those two nations are to…day on the high…
road of startling progress。 Austria could only resist our invasions
and renew the way against Napoleon by virtue of that law of
primogeniture which preserves in the family the active forces of a
nation； and supplies the great productions necessary to the State。 The
house of Bourbon； feeling that it was slipping to the third rank in
Europe； by reason of liberalism； wanted to regain its rightful place
a