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In spite of his visible incapacity he had acquired during the last
thirty…six years （the Revolution helping him） an income of thirty
thousand francs； derived from farm lands； woods and meadows。 If
Minoret； being master of the coach…lines of Nemours and those of the
Gatinais to Paris； still worked at his business； it was less from
habit than for the sake of an only son； to whom he was anxious to give
a fine career。 This son； who was now （to use an expression of the
peasantry） a 〃monsieur；〃 had just completed his legal studies and was
about to take his degree as licentiate； preparatory to being called to
the Bar。 Monsieur and Madame Minoret…Levraultfor behind our colossus
every one will perceive a woman without whom this signal good…fortune
would have been impossibleleft their son free to choose his own
career； he might be a notary in Paris； king's…attorney in some
district； collector of customs no matter where； broker； or post
master； as he pleased。 What fancy of his could they ever refuse him？
to what position of life might he not aspire as the son of a man about
whom the whole countryside； from Montargis to Essonne； was in the
habit of saying； 〃Pere Minoret doesn't even know how rich he is〃？
This saying had obtained fresh force about four years before this
history begins； when Minoret； after selling his inn； built stables and
a splendid dwelling； and removed the post…house from the Grand'Rue to
the wharf。 The new establishment cost two hundred thousand francs；
which the gossip of thirty miles in circumference more than doubled。
The Nemours mail…coach service requires a large number of horses。 It
goes to Fontainebleau on the road to Paris； and from there diverges to
Montargis and also to Montereau。 The relays are long； and the sandy
soil of the Montargis road calls for the mythical third horse； always
paid for but never seen。 A man of Minoret's build； and Minoret's
wealth； at the head of such an establishment might well be called；
without contradiction； the master of Nemours。 Though he never thought
of God or devil； being a practical materialist； just as he was a
practical agriculturist； a practical egoist； and a practical miser；
Minoret had enjoyed up to this time a life of unmixed happiness；if
we can call pure materialism happiness。 A physiologist； observing the
rolls of flesh which covered the last vertebrae and pressed upon the
giant's cerebellum； and； above all； hearing the shrill； sharp voice
which contrasted so absurdly with his huge body； would have understood
why this ponderous； coarse being adored his only son； and why he had
so long expected him；a fact proved by the name； Desire； which was
given to the child。
The mother； whom the boy fortunately resembled； rivaled the father in
spoiling him。 No child could long have resisted the effects of such
idolatry。 As soon as Desire knew the extent of his power he milked his
mother's coffer and dipped into his father's purse； making each author
of his being believe that he； or she； alone was petitioned。 Desire；
who played a part in Nemours far beyond that of a prince royal in his
father's capital； chose to gratify his fancies in Paris just as he had
gratified them in his native town； he had therefore spent a yearly sum
of not less than twelve thousand francs during the time of his legal
studies。 But for that money he had certainly acquired ideas that would
never had come to him in Nemours； he had stripped off the provincial
skin； learned the power of money and seen in the magistracy a means of
advancement which he fancied。 During the last year he had spent an
extra sum of ten thousand francs in the company of artists；
journalists； and their mistresses。 A confidential and rather
disquieting letter from his son； asking for his consent to a marriage；
explains the watch which the post master was now keeping on the
bridge； for Madame Minoret…Levrault； busy in preparing a sumptuous
breakfast to celebrate the triumphal return of the licentiate； had
sent her husband to the mail road； advising him to take a horse and
ride out if he saw nothing of the diligence。 The coach which was
conveying the precious son usually arrived at five in the morning and
it was now nine！ What could be the meaning of such delay？ Was the
coach overturned？ Could Desire be dead？ Or was it nothing worse than a
broken leg？
Three distinct volleys of cracking whips rent the air like a discharge
of musketry； the red waistcoats of the postilions dawned in sight； ten
horses neighed。 The master pulled off his cap and waved it； he was
seen。 The best mounted postilion； who was returning with two gray
carriage…horses； set spurs to his beast and came on in advance of the
five diligence horses and the three other carriage…horses； and soon
reached his master。
〃Have you seen the 'Ducler'？〃
On the great mail routes names； often fantastic； are given to the
different coaches； such； for instance； as the 〃Caillard；〃 the 〃Ducler〃
（the coach between Nemours and Paris）； the 〃Grand Bureau。〃 Every new
enterprise is called the 〃Competition。〃 In the days of the Lecompte
company their coaches were called the 〃Countess。〃〃'Caillard' could
not overtake the 'Countess'； but 'Grand Bureau' caught up with her
finely；〃 you will hear the men say。 If you see a postilion pressing
his horses and refusing a glass of wine； question the conductor and he
will tell you； snuffing the air while his eye gazes far into space；
〃The 'Competition' is ahead。〃〃We can't get in sight of her；〃 cries
the postilion； 〃the vixen！ she wouldn't stop to let her passengers
dine。〃〃The question is； has she got any？〃 responds the conductor。
〃Give it to Polignac！〃 All lazy and bad horses are called Polignac。
Such are the jokes and the basis of conversation between postilions
and conductors on the roofs of the coaches。 Each profession； each
calling in France has its slang。
〃Have you seen the 'Ducler'？〃 asked Minoret。
〃Monsieur Desire？〃 said the postilion； interrupting his master。 〃Hay！
you must have heard us； didn't our whips tell you？ we felt you were
somewhere along the road。〃
Just then a woman dressed in her Sunday clothes；for the bells were
pealing from the clock tower and calling the inhabitants to mass；a
woman about thirty…six years of age came up to the post master。
〃Well； cousin；〃 she said； 〃you wouldn't believe me Uncle is with
Ursula in the Grand'Rue； and they are going to mass。〃
In spite of the modern poetic canons as to local color； it is quite
impossible to push realism so far as to repeat the horrible blasphemy
mingled with oaths which this news； apparently so unexciting； brought
from the huge mouth of Minoret…Levrault； his shrill voice grew
sibilant； and his face took on the appearance of what people oddly
enough call a sunstroke。
〃Is that true？〃 he asked； after the first explosion of his wrath was
over。
The postilions bowed to their master as they and their horses passed
him； but he seemed to neither