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of the successive transformations of the spiritualized globe have
struck； stirred； roused you； then； my dear sir； the 'Globe' newspaper；
noble name which proclaims its mission；the 'Globe' is an organ； a
guide； who will explain to you with the coming of each day the
conditions under which this vast political and moral change will be
effected。 The gentlemen who〃
〃Do they drink wine？〃
〃Yes； Monsieur； their houses are kept up in the highest style； I may
say； in prophetic style。 Superb salons； large receptions； the apex of
social life〃
〃Well；〃 remarked the lunatic； 〃the workmen who pull things down want
wine as much as those who put things up。〃
〃True；〃 said the illustrious Gaudissart； 〃and all the more； Monsieur；
when they pull down with one hand and build up with the other； like
the apostles of the 'Globe。'〃
〃They want good wine； Head of Vouvray； two puncheons； three hundred
bottles； only one hundred francs；a trifle。〃
〃How much is that a bottle？〃 said Gaudissart； calculating。 〃Let me
see； there's the freight and the duty；it will come to about seven
sous。 Why； it wouldn't be a bad thing： they give more for worse wines
（Good！ I've got him！〃 thought Gaudissart； 〃he wants to sell me wine
which I want； I'll master him）Well； Monsieur；〃 he continued； 〃those
who argue usually come to an agreement。 Let us be frank with each
other。 You have great influence in this district〃
〃I should think so！〃 said the madman； 〃I am the Head of Vouvray！〃
〃Well； I see that you thoroughly comprehend the insurance of
intellectual capital〃
〃Thoroughly。〃
〃and that you have measured the full importance of the 'Globe'〃
〃Twice； on foot。〃
Gaudissart was listening to himself and not to the replies of his
hearer。
〃Therefore； in view of your circumstances and of your age； I quite
understand that you have no need of insurance for yourself； but；
Monsieur； you might induce others to insure； either because of their
inherent qualities which need development； or for the protection of
their families against a precarious future。 Now； if you will subscribe
to the 'Globe；' and give me your personal assistance in this district
on behalf of insurance； especially life…annuity；for the provinces
are much attached to annuitiesWell； if you will do this； then we can
come to an understanding about the wine。 Will you take the 'Globe'？〃
〃I stand on the globe。〃
〃Will you advance its interests in this district？〃
〃I advance。〃
〃And？〃
〃And〃
〃And Ibut you do subscribe； don't you； to the 'Globe'？〃
〃The globe； good thing； for life；〃 said the lunatic。
〃For life； Monsieur？ah； I see！ yes； you are right： it is full of
life； vigor； intellect； science；absolutely crammed with science；
well printed； clear type； well set up； what I call 'good nap。' None of
your botched stuff； cotton and wool； trumpery； flimsy rubbish that
rips if you look at it。 It is deep； it states questions on which you
can meditate at your leisure； it is the very thing to make time pass
agreeably in the country。〃
〃That suits me；〃 said the lunatic。
〃It only costs a trifle；eighty francs。〃
〃That won't suit me；〃 said the lunatic。
〃Monsieur！〃 cried Gaudissart； 〃of course you have got grandchildren？
There's the 'Children's Journal'； that only costs seven francs a
year。〃
〃Very good； take my wine； and I will subscribe to the children。 That
suits me very well： a fine idea！ intellectual product； child。 That's
man living upon man； hein？〃
〃You've hit it； Monsieur；〃 said Gaudissart。
〃I've hit it！〃
〃You consent to push me in the district？〃
〃In the district。〃
〃I have your approbation？〃
〃You have it。〃
〃Well； then； Monsieur； I take your wine at a hundred francs〃
〃No； no！ hundred and ten〃
〃Monsieur！ A hundred and ten for the company； but a hundred to me。 I
enable you to make a sale； you owe me a commission。〃
〃Charge 'em a hundred and twenty；〃〃cent vingt〃 （〃sans vin；〃 without
wine）。
〃Capital pun that！〃
〃No； puncheons。 About that wine〃
〃Better and better！ why； you are a wit。〃
〃Yes； I'm that；〃 said the fool。 〃Come out and see my vineyards。〃
〃Willingly； the wine is getting into my head；〃 said the illustrious
Gaudissart； following Monsieur Margaritis； who marched him from row to
row and hillock to hillock among the vines。 The three ladies and
Monsieur Vernier； left to themselves； went off into fits of laughter
as they watched the traveller and the lunatic discussing；
gesticulating； stopping short； resuming their walk； and talking
vehemently。
〃I wish the good…man hadn't carried him off；〃 said Vernier。
Finally the pair returned； walking with the eager step of men who were
in haste to finish up a matter of business。
〃He has got the better of the Parisian； damn him！〃 cried Vernier。
And so it was。 To the huge delight of the lunatic our illustrious
Gaudissart sat down at a card…table and wrote an order for the
delivery of the two casks of wine。 Margaritis； having carefully read
it over； counted out seven francs for his subscription to the
〃Children's Journal〃 and gave them to the traveller。
〃Adieu until to…morrow； Monsieur；〃 said Gaudissart； twisting his
watch…key。 〃I shall have the honor to call for you to…morrow。
Meantime； send the wine at once to Paris to the address I have given
you； and the price will be remitted immediately。〃
Gaudissart； however； was a Norman； and he had no idea of making any
agreement which was not reciprocal。 He therefore required his promised
supporter to sign a bond （which the lunatic carefully read over） to
deliver two puncheons of the wine called 〃Head of Vouvray；〃 vineyard
of Margaritis。
This done； the illustrious Gaudissart departed in high feather；
humming； as he skipped along；
〃The King of the South；
He burned his mouth；〃 etc。
CHAPTER V
The illustrious Gaudissart returned to the Soleil d'Or； where he
naturally conversed with the landlord while waiting for dinner。
Mitouflet was an old soldier； guilelessly crafty； like the peasantry
of the Loire； he never laughed at a jest； but took it with the gravity
of a man accustomed to the roar of cannon and to make his own jokes
under arms。
〃You have some very strong…minded people here；〃 said Gaudissart；
leaning against the door…post and lighting his cigar at Mitouflet's
pipe。
〃How do you mean？〃 asked Mitouflet。
〃I mean people who are rough…shod on political and financial ideas。〃
〃Whom have you seen？ if I may ask without indiscretion；〃 said the
landlord innocently； expectorating after the adroit and periodical
fashion of smokers。
〃A fine； energetic fellow named Margaritis。〃
Mitouflet cast two glances in succession at his guest which were
expressive of chilling irony。
〃May be； the good…man knows a deal。 He knows too much for other folks；
who can't always understand him。〃
〃