CHAPTER TWO

A Mayor

Luckily for Mr de Rênal's popularity as a mayor, the public square needed a new wall. Mr de Rênal needed three trips to Paris to raise enough money because a powerful minister said he would always oppose a wall for the square in Verrières. The new wall is now very large, regardless of any ministers.

The Mayor's plans are final. When an old army surgeon said that the trees were being cut too much, the Mayor replied, "I like shade, and I will have the trees cut for shade. They have no other use, and they don't bring in any money."

"Bringing in money": this is a very important phrase, for money always solves any argument in Verrières.

One morning, Mr de Rênal was walking with his wife. Mrs de Rênal, a beautiful woman of thirty, was watching her three boys. Mr de Rênal was talking angrily about a man from Paris, Mr Appert, who two days ago visited both the prison and the poor house.

"How can this man harm you?" asked his wife. "You are very honest with the poor."

Mr de Rênal replied, "He will blame people for something, and the liberals will write in the newspaper about it. I'll never forgive the priest for inviting him."

(end of section)