按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to be realized。 A conspiracy of officers was discovered at the heart
of the army； and articles from the 〃Moniteur〃 giving details of the
arrests were hawked about the streets。
In the depths of her cage in the lottery…office of the rue Vivienne；
Agathe heard the name of Philippe Bridau。 She fainted； and the
manager； understanding her trouble and the necessity of taking certain
steps； gave her leave of absence for two weeks。
〃Ah！ my friend；〃 she said to Joseph； as she went to bed that night；
〃it is our severity which drove him to it。〃
〃I'll go and see Desroches；〃 answered Joseph。
While the artist was confiding his brother's affairs to the younger
Desroches；who by this time had the reputation of being one of the
keenest and most astute lawyers in Paris； and who； moreover； did
sundry services for personages of distinction； among others for des
Lupeaulx； then secretary of a ministry；Giroudeau called upon the
widow。 This time； Agathe believed him。
〃Madame；〃 he said； 〃if you can produce twelve thousand francs your son
will be set at liberty for want of proof。 It is necessary to buy the
silence of two witnesses。〃
〃I will get the money；〃 said the poor mother； without knowing how or
where。
Inspired by this danger； she wrote to her godmother； old Madame
Hochon； begging her to ask Jean…Jacques Rouget to send her the twelve
thousand francs and save his nephew Philippe。 If Rouget refused； she
entreated Madame Hochon to lend them to her； promising to return them
in two years。 By return of courier； she received the following
letter：
My dear girl： Though your brother has an income of not less than
forty thousand francs a year； without counting the sums he has
laid by for the last seventeen years； and which Monsieur Hochon
estimates at more than six hundred thousand francs； he will not
give one penny to nephews whom he has never seen。 As for me； you
know I cannot dispose of a farthing while my husband lives。 Hochon
is the greatest miser in Issoudun。 I do not know what he does with
his money； he does not give twenty francs a year to his
grandchildren。 As for borrowing the money； I should have to get
his signature； and he would refuse it。 I have not even attempted
to speak to your brother； who lives with a concubine； to whom he
is a slave。 It is pitiable to see how the poor man is treated in
his own home； when he might have a sister and nephews to take care
of him。
I have hinted to you several times that your presence at Issoudun
might save your brother； and rescue a fortune of forty； perhaps
sixty； thousand francs a year from the claws of that slut； but you
either do not answer me； or you seem never to understand my
meaning。 So to…day I am obliged to write without epistolary
circumlocution。 I feel for the misfortune which has overtaken you；
but； my dearest； I can do no more than pity you。 And this is why：
Hochon； at eighty…five years of age； takes four meals a day； eats
a salad with hard…boiled eggs every night； and frisks about like a
rabbit。 I shall have spent my whole lifefor he will live to
write my epitaphwithout ever having had twenty francs in my
purse。 If you will come to Issoudun and counteract the influence
of that concubine over your brother； you must stay with me； for
there are reasons why Rouget cannot receive you in his own house；
but even then； I shall have hard work to get my husband to let me
have you here。 However； you can safely come； I can make him mind
me as to that。 I know a way to get what I want out of him； I have
only to speak of making my will。 It seems such a horrid thing to
do that I do not often have recourse to it； but for you； dear
Agathe； I will do the impossible。
I hope your Philippe will get out of his trouble； and I beg you to
employ a good lawyer。 In any case； come to Issoudun as soon as you
can。 Remember that your imbecile of a brother at fifty…seven is an
older and weaker man than Monsieur Hochon。 So it is a pressing
matter。 People are talking already of a will that cuts off your
inheritance； but Monsieur Hochon says there is still time to get
it revoked。
Adieu； my little Agathe； may God help you！ Believe in the love of
your godmother；
Maximilienne Hochon； nee Lousteau。
P。S。 Has my nephew； Etienne； who writes in the newspapers and is
intimate； they tell me； with your son Philippe； been to pay his
respects to you？ But come at once to Issoudun； and we will talk
over things。
This letter made a great impression on Agathe； who showed it； of
course； to Joseph； to whom she had been forced to mention Giroudeau's
proposal。 The artist； who grew wary when it concerned his brother；
pointed out to her that she ought to tell everything to Desroches。
Conscious of the wisdom of that advice； Agathe went with her son the
next morning； at six o'clock； to find Desroches at his house in the
rue de Bussy。 The lawyer； as cold and stern as his late father； with a
sharp voice； a rough skin； implacable eyes； and the visage of a fox as
he licks his lips of the blood of chickens； bounded like a tiger when
he heard of Giroudeau's visit and proposal。
〃And pray； mere Bridau；〃 he cried； in his little cracked voice； 〃how
long are you going to be duped by your cursed brigand of a son？ Don't
give him a farthing。 Make yourself easy； I'll answer for Philippe。 I
should like to see him brought before the Court of Peers； it might
save his future。 You are afraid he will be condemned； but I say； may
it please God his lawyer lets him be convicted。 Go to Issoudun； secure
the property for your children。 If you don't succeed； if your brother
has made a will in favor of that woman； and you can't make him revoke
it；well then； at least get all the evidence you can of undue
influence； and I'll institute proceedings for you。 But you are too
honest a woman to know how to get at the bottom facts of such a
matter。 I'll go myself to Issoudun in the holidays；if I can。〃
That 〃go myself〃 made Joseph tremble in his skin。 Desroches winked at
him to let his mother go downstairs first； and then the lawyer
detained the young man for a single moment。
〃Your brother is a great scoundrel； he is the cause of the discovery
of this conspiracy；intentionally or not； I can't say； for the rascal
is so sly no one can find out the exact truth as to that。 Fool or
traitor；take your choice。 He will be put under the surveillance of
the police； nothing more。 You needn't be uneasy； no one knows this
secret but myself。 Go to Issoudun with your mother。 You have good
sense； try to save the property。〃
〃Come； my poor mother； Desroches is right；〃 said Joseph； rejoining
Agathe on the staircase。 〃I have sold my two pictures； let us start
for Berry； you have two weeks' leave of absence。〃
After writing to her godmother to announce their arrival； Agathe and
Joseph started the next evening for t