CHAPTER V.
AUDIENCE OF THE COMPTROLLER-GENERAL.
I went, with my half-crown, to present a petition to the comptroller-general, who was that day giving audience.
His ante-chamber was filled with people of all kinds. There were there especially some with more bluff faces, more prominent bellies, and more arrogant looks than my man of eight millions. I durst not draw near to them; I saw them, but they did not observe me.
A monk, a great man for tithes, had begun a suit at law against certain subjects of the state, whom he called his tenants. He had already a larger income than the half of his parishioners put together, and was moreover lord of the manor. His claim was, that whereas his vassals had, with infinite pains, converted their heaths into vineyards, they owed him a tithe of the wine, which, taking into the account the price of labor, of the vine-props, of the casks and cellarage, would carry off above a quarter of the produce.
"But," said he, "as the tithes are due, jure divino, I demand the quarter of the substance of my tenants, in the name of God."
The minister of the revenue said to him, "I see how charitable you are."
