d into two
sections by wooden bars standing upright their full length, one portion
being reserved for the cattle, and the other for persons who attended
on them. You could scarcely see there, as all the loopholes were closed
up. The oxen were eating, with little chains attached to them, and their
bodies exhaled a heat which was kept down by the low ceiling. But
someone let in the light, and suddenly a thin stream of water flowed
into the little channel which was beside the racks. Lowings were heard,
and the horns of the cattle made a rattling noise like sticks. All the
oxen thrust their muzzles between the bars, and proceeded to drink
slowly.

The big teams made their way into the farmyard, and the foals began to
neigh. On the ground floor two or three lanterns flashed and then
disappeared. The workpeople were passing, dragging their wooden shoes
over the pebbles, and the bell was ringing for supper.

The two visitors took their departure.

All they had seen delighted them, and their resolution was taken. After
that evening, they took out of their library the four volumes of _La
Maison Rustique_, went through Gasperin's course of lectures, and
subscribed to an agricultural journal.

In order to be able to attend the fairs more conveniently, they
purchased a car, which Bouvard used to drive.

Dressed in blue blouses, with large-brimmed hats, gaiters up to their
knees, and horse-dealers' cudgels in their hands, they prowled around
cattle, asked questions of labourers, and did not fail to attend at all
the agricultural gatherings.

Soon they wearied Maitre Gouy with their advice, and especially by their
depreciation of his system of fallowing. But the farmer stuck to his
routine. He asked to be allowed a quarter, putting forward as a reason
the heavy falls of hail. As for the farm-dues, he never furnished any of
them. His wife raised an outcry at even the most legitimate claims. At
length Bouvard declared his intention not to renew the lease.

Thenceforth Maitre Gouy economised the manures, allowed weeds to grow
up, ruined the soil; and he took himself off with a fierce air, which
showed that he was meditating some scheme of revenge.

Bouvard had calculated that 20,000 francs, that is to say, more than
four times the rent of the farm, would be enough to start with. His
notary sent the amount from Paris.

The property which they had undertaken to cultivate comprised fifteen
hectares[3] of grounds and meadows, twe