- This instinctive process of reasoning
prevailed from the outset, and, in proportion as excesses increase,
prevails to a much greater extent. The noble is ever the past,
present, and future creditor, or, at the very least, a possible one,
which means that he is the worst and most odious of enemies. All
his ways are suspicious, even when he is doing nothing; whatever he
may do it is with a view of arming himself.
M. de Gilliers, who lives with his wife and sister one league out of
Romans in Dauphiny,[9] amuses himself by planting trees and flowers;
a few steps from his house, on another domain, M. de Montchorel, an
old soldier, and M. Osmond, an old lawyer from Paris, with their
wives and children, occupy their leisure hours in somewhat the same
manner. M. de Gilliers having ordered and received wooden water-
pipes, the report spreads that they are cannon. His guest, M.
Servan, receives an English traveling-trunk, which is said to be
full of pistols. When M. Osmond and M.
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