“It would cost too much,” remarked Godain.

“I have been too long among the people who rule us to believe that matters will go as you want them,” said Vaudoyer at last, remembering his past official intercourse with the courts and the gendarmerie.  “If it were at Soulanges, now, it might be done; Monsieur Soudry represents the government there, and he doesn’t wish well to the Shopman; but if you attack the Shopman and Vatel they’ll defend themselves viciously; they’ll say, ’The woman was to blame; she had a tree, otherwise she would have let her bundle be examined on the highroad; she wouldn’t have run away; if an accident happened to her it was through her own fault.’  No, you can’t trust to that plan.”

“The Shopman didn’t resist when I sued him,” said Courtecuisse; “he paid me at once.”

“I’ll go to Soulanges, if you like,” said Bonnebault, “and consult Monsieur Gourdon, the clerk of the court, and you shall know to-night if there’s money in it.”

“You are only making an excuse to be after that big goose of a girl, Socquard’s daughter,” said Marie Tonsard, giving Bonnebault a slap on the shoulder that made his lungs hum.

Just then a verse of an old Burgundian Christmas carol was heard:—­

  “One fine moment of his life
  Was at the wedding feast;
  He changed the water into wine,—­
  Madeira of the best.”

Every one recognized the vinous voice of old Fourchon, to whom the verse must have been peculiarly agreeable; Mouche accompanied in his treble tones.

“Ha! they’re full!” cried old Mother Tonsard to her daughter-in-law; “your father is as red as a grid-iron, and that chip o’ the block as pink as vine-shoot.”

“Your healths!” cried the old man, “and a fine lot of scoundrels you are!  All hail!” he said to his granddaughter, whom he spied kissing Bonnebault, “hail, Marie, full of vice!  Satan is with three; cursed art thou among women, etcetera.  All hail, the company present! you are done for, every one of you! you may just say good-bye to your sheaves.  I being news.  I always told you the rich would crush us; well now, the Shopman is going to have the law of you!  Ha! see what it is to struggle against those bourgeois fellows, who have made so many laws since they got into power that they’ve a law to enforce every trick they play—­”

A violent hiccough gave a sudden turn to the ideas of the distinguished orator.

“If Vermichel were only here I’d blow in his gullet, and he’d get an idea of sherry wine.  Hey! what a wine it is!  If I wasn’t a Burgundian I’d be a Spaniard!  It’s God’s own wine! the pope says mass with it —­ Hey!  I’m young again!  Say, Courtecuisse! if your wife were only here we’d be young together.  Don’t tell me!  Spanish wine is worth a dozen of boiled wine.  Let’s have a revolution if it’s only to empty the cellars!”

“But what’s your news, papa?” said Tonsard.