CHAPTER I

The feudal edifice and the industrial--The workmen of Lyons--M. Bouvier-Dumolard--General Roguet--Discussion and signing of the tariff regulating the price of the workmanship of fabrics--The makers refuse to submit to it--_Artificial prices_ for silk-workers--Insurrection of Lyons--Eighteen millions on the civil list--Timon's calculations--An unlucky saying of M. de Montalivet