All of which serves to prove that towns, like families, are variable in their destiny.
Gaubertin, a young man without property of any kind, succeeded a steward enriched by a management of thirty years, who preferred to become a partner in the famous firm of Minoret rather than continue to administer Les Aigues.

In his own interests he introduced into his place as land-steward Francois Gaubertin, his accountant for five years, whom he now relied on to cover his retreat, and who, out of gratitude for his instructions, promised to obtain for him a release in full of all claims from Madame Laguerre, who by this time was terrified at the Revolution.
Gaubertin's father, the attorney-general of the department, henceforth protected the timid woman.

This provincial Fouquier-Tinville raised a false alarm of danger in the mind of the opera-divinity on the ground of her former relations to the aristocracy, so as to give his son the equally false credit of saving her life; on the strength of which Gaubertin the younger obtained very easily the release of his predecessor.

Mademoiselle Laguerre then made Francois Gaubertin her prime minister, as much through policy as from gratitude.

The late steward had not spoiled her.