France had a famous dish called foie gras. A goose's liver was not normally so fatty, but farmers used an iron tube to force-feed the geese, stuffing food down their throats again before they had time to digest the previous meal. Through this prolonged force-feeding, a fatty liver six to ten times larger than a normal goose liver was produced.
The stomach had a limited capacity. If too much was forced into it at once, it would burst, so the amount had to be increased bit by bit.
It was because Georgiana had heard that farmers in Alsace were borrowing from loan sharks and causing widespread resentment that she came up with the Agricultural Credit Law. Yet even she did not know where people's limits lay. Assignats had once been issued in excessive quantities as well. At the time, they were backed not by precious metals such as gold and silver, but by land.
No one wanted to borrow money. A person without debt was unburdened. During the French Revolution, dividing up land and canceling debts had won popular support. Yet sometimes, there was no choice but to borrow.
As she brooded, the carriage came to a halt. This time, it was Fiegel who opened the door for her.
"We've stopped for lunch, madam," Fiegel said. "I heard they have Normandy mussels here."
She stepped out and looked over the vast, level plain. Apart from gently rolling slopes, she could find no mountains or rivers to use as landmarks. It was truly the middle of nowhere.
"Lead the way," Georgiana said.
"Madam, there is actually someone you may need to meet," Fiegel said. Then she stepped half a pace aside, revealing a young girl standing behind her.
The girl greeted Georgiana with a proper court curtsy.
"Who are you?" Georgiana