My advice to you is to capitulate and be reconciled with him.

He is intimate, as you know, with Soudry, the head of the gendarmerie at Soulanges; with Monsieur Rigou, our mayor at Blangy; the patrols are under his influence; therefore you will find it impossible to repress the pilferings which are eating into your estate.

During the last two years your woods have been devastated.
Consequently the Gravelots are more than likely to win their suit.

They say, very truly: 'According to the terms of the lease, the care of the woods is left to the owner; he does not protect them, and we are injured; the owner is bound to pay us damages.' That's fair enough; but it doesn't follow that they should win their case." "We must be ready to defend this suit at all costs," said the general, "and then we shall have no more of them." "You shall gratify Gaubertin," remarked Sibilet.
"How so ?" "Suing the Gravelots is the same as a hand to hand fight with Gaubertin, who is their agent," answered Sibilet.

"He asks nothing better than such a suit.