"But what? Is it any fault of ours that the nobles fled to foreign
lands? We have not stolen their lands, have we? The government offered
them for sale; we bought them, and paid for them; they are lawfully
ours."

"That is true; but Monsieur de Sairmeuse is the great friend of the
king."

The young soldier, whose voice had aroused the most noble sentiments
only a moment before, was forgotten.

Invaded France, the threatening enemy, were alike forgotten. The
all-powerful instinct of avarice was suddenly aroused.

"In my opinion," resumed Chanlouineau, "we should do well to consult the
Baron d'Escorval."

"Yes, yes!" exclaimed the peasants; "let us go at once!"

They were starting, when a villager who sometimes read the papers,
checked them by saying:

"Take care what you do. Do you not know that since the return of the
Bourbons Monsieur d'Escorval is of no account whatever? Fouche has him
upon the proscription list, and he is under the surveillance of the
police."

This objection dampened the enthusiasm.

"That is true," murmured some of the older men; "a visit to Monsieur