32/39 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. |