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hawk about such CATCH…FOOLS。 No； Monsieur； the most respectable houses
in Paris are concerned in this enterprise； and their interests
guarantee〃
Hereupon Gaudissart drew forth his whole string of phrases； and
Monsieur Vernier let him go the length of his tether； listening with
apparent interest which completely deceived him。 But after the word
〃guarantee〃 Vernier paid no further attention to our traveller's
rhetoric； and turned over in his mind how to play him some malicious
trick and deliver a land； justly considered half…savage by speculators
unable to get a bite of it； from the inroads of these Parisian
caterpillars。
At the head of an enchanting valley； called the Valley Coquette
because of its windings and the curves which return upon each other at
every step； and seem more and more lovely as we advance； whether we
ascend or descend them； there lived； in a little house surrounded by
vineyards； a half…insane man named Margaritis。 He was of Italian
origin； married； but childless； and his wife took care of him with a
courage fully appreciated by the neighborhood。 Madame Margaritis was
undoubtedly in real danger from a man who； among other fancies；
persisted in carrying about with him two long…bladed knives with which
he sometimes threatened her。 Who has not seen the wonderful self…
devotion shown by provincials who consecrate their lives to the care
of sufferers； possibly because of the disgrace heaped upon a
bourgeoise if she allows her husband or children to be taken to a
public hospital？ Moreover； who does not know the repugnance which
these people feel to the payment of the two or three thousand francs
required at Charenton or in the private lunatic asylums？ If any one
had spoken to Madame Margaritis of Doctors Dubuisson； Esquirol；
Blanche； and others； she would have preferred； with noble indignation；
to keep her thousands and take care of the 〃good…man〃 at home。
As the incomprehensible whims of this lunatic are connected with the
current of our story； we are compelled to exhibit the most striking of
them。 Margaritis went out as soon as it rained； and walked about bare…
headed in his vineyard。 At home he made incessant inquiries for
newspapers； to satisfy him his wife and the maid…servant used to give
him an old journal called the 〃Indre…et…Loire；〃 and for seven years he
had never yet perceived that he was reading the same number over and
over again。 Perhaps a doctor would have observed with interest the
connection that evidently existed between the recurring and spasmodic
demands for the newspaper and the atmospheric variations of the
weather。
Usually when his wife had company； which happened nearly every
evening； for the neighbors； pitying her situation； would frequently
come to play at boston in her salon； Margaritis remained silent in a
corner and never stirred。 But the moment ten o'clock began to strike
on a clock which he kept shut up in a large oblong closet； he rose at
the stroke with the mechanical precision of the figures which are made
to move by springs in the German toys。 He would then advance slowly
towards the players； give them a glance like the automatic gaze of the
Greeks and Turks exhibited on the Boulevard du Temple； and say
sternly； 〃Go away！〃 There were days when he had lucid intervals and
could give his wife excellent advice as to the sale of their wines；
but at such times he became extremely annoying； and would ransack her
closets and steal her delicacies； which he devoured in secret。
Occasionally； when the usual visitors made their appearance he would
treat them with civility； but as a general thing his remarks and
replies were incoherent。 For instance； a lady once asked him； 〃How do
you feel to…day； Monsieur Margaritis？〃 〃I have grown a beard；〃 he
replied； 〃have you？〃 〃Are you better？〃 asked another。 〃Jerusalem！
Jerusalem！〃 was the answer。 But the greater part of the time he gazed
stolidly at his guests without uttering a word； and then his wife
would say； 〃The good…man does not hear anything to…day。〃
On two or three occasions in the course of five years； and usually
about the time of the equinox； this remark had driven him to frenzy；
he flourished his knives and shouted； 〃That joke dishonors me！〃
As for his daily life； he ate； drank； and walked about like other men
in sound health； and so it happened that he was treated with about the
same respect and attention that we give to a heavy piece of furniture。
Among his many absurdities was one of which no man had as yet
discovered the object； although by long practice the wiseheads of the
community had learned to unravel the meaning of most of his vagaries。
He insisted on keeping a sack of flour and two puncheons of wine in
the cellar of his house； and he would allow no one to lay hands on
them。 But then the month of June came round he grew uneasy with the
restless anxiety of a madman about the sale of the sack and the
puncheons。 Madame Margaritis could nearly always persuade him that the
wine had been sold at an enormous price； which she paid over to him；
and which he hid so cautiously that neither his wife nor the servant
who watched him had ever been able to discover its hiding…place。
The evening before Gaudissart reached Vouvray Madame Margaritis had
had more difficulty than usual in deceiving her husband； whose mind
happened to be uncommonly lucid。
〃I really don't know how I shall get through to…morrow；〃 she had said
to Madame Vernier。 〃Would you believe it； the good…man insists on
watching his two casks of wine。 He has worried me so this whole day；
that I had to show him two full puncheons。 Our neighbor； Pierre
Champlain； fortunately had two which he had not sold。 I asked him to
kindly let me have them rolled into our cellar； and oh； dear！ now that
the good…man has seen them he insists on bottling them off himself！〃
Madame Vernier had related the poor woman's trouble to her husband
just before the entrance of Gaudissart； and at the first words of the
famous traveller Vernier determined that he should be made to grapple
with Margaritis。
〃Monsieur；〃 said the ex…dyer； as soon as the illustrious Gaudissart
had fired his first broadside； 〃I will not hide from you the great
difficulties which my native place offers to your enterprise。 This
part of the country goes along； as it were； in the rough；〃suo modo。〃
It is a country where new ideas don't take hold。 We live as our
fathers lived； we amuse ourselves with four meals a day； and we
cultivate our vineyards and sell our wines to the best advantage。 Our
business principle is to sell things for more than they cost us； we
shall stick in that rut； and neither God nor the devil can get us out
of it。 I will； however； give you some advice； and good advice is an
egg in the hand。 There is in this town a retired banker in whose
wisdom I haveI； particularlythe greatest confidence。 If you can
obtain his support； I will add mine。 If your proposals have real
merit；