and there can be no doubt that they suffer terribly from the enormous
taxation. I have seen it on my own estate in Poitou, and can make
every allowance for them. In many cases the amounts they are adjudged
to pay are absolutely greater than their whole income. They are
forced to live upon bread made of bran and sawdust, to eat acorns
and beechnuts; they are gaunt with hunger; they see their children
dying before their eyes. They know not how their sufferings arise,
they only know that they suffer, and in their despair they turn
like hungry wolves against all who are better off than themselves."

"And your people, are they suffering as much as these, monsieur?"

"Not quite so much, perhaps, but they are suffering. I have spent
but a fortnight on my estates, of which I have only been master
for a year."

"And could you do nothing for them, monsieur?" the girl asked.

"I did what I could, mademoiselle. I remitted half their rents,
which was in fact but a small thing, seeing that I knew positively
they could not have paid them. Still it was no doubt some alleviation
to know that the arrears were not being piled up against them. As
to the other half, I told my intendant not to press any whom he
thought could not pay, and that if he drew enough to pay his own
salary and the wages of the retainers I should be content -- for
my pay as colonel is ample for my own wants."

"You are very young to be a colonel, Monsieur Campbell," the baroness
said.