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farms； he owned iron…works and he sold fleeces。 His well…beloved son
was stupidly incapable of doing anything； but the father destined him
for the state in life of a land proprietor and allowed him to grow up
in wealth and silliness； certain that the lad would know as much as
the wisest if he simply let himself live and die。 After 1799； the
cipherers of Issoudun put； at the very least； thirty thousand francs'
income to the doctor's credit。 From the time of his wife's death he
led a debauched life； though he regulated it； so to speak； and kept it
within the closed doors of his own house。 This man； endowed with 〃strength
of character；〃 died in 1805； and God only knows what the townspeople
of Issoudun said about him then； and how many anecdotes they related
of his horrible private life。 Jean…Jacques Rouget； whom his father；
recognizing his stupidity； had latterly treated with severity；
remained a bachelor for certain reasons； the explanation of which will
form an important part of this history。 His celibacy was partly his
father's fault； as we shall see later。
Meantime； it is well to inquire into the results of the secret
vengeance the doctor took on a daughter whom he did not recognize as
his own； but who； you must understand at once； was legitimately his。
Not a person in Issoudun had noticed one of those capricious facts
that make the whole subject of generation a vast abyss in which
science flounders。 Agathe bore a strong likeness to the mother of
Doctor Rouget。 Just as gout is said to skip a generation and pass from
grandfather to grandson； resemblances not uncommonly follow the same
course。
In like manner； the eldest of Agathe's children； who physically
resembled his mother； had the moral qualities of his grandfather；
Doctor Rouget。 We will leave the solution of this problem to the
twentieth century； with a fine collection of microscopic animalculae；
our descendants may perhaps write as much nonsense as the scientific
schools of the nineteenth century have uttered on this mysterious and
perplexing question。
Agathe Rouget attracted the admiration of everyone by a face destined；
like that of Mary； the mother of our Lord； to continue ever virgin；
even after marriage。 Her portrait； still to be seen in the atelier of
Bridau； shows a perfect oval and a clear whiteness of complexion；
without the faintest tinge of color； in spite of her golden hair。 More
than one artist； looking at the pure brow； the discreet； composed
mouth； the delicate nose； the small ears； the long lashes； and the
dark…blue eyes filled with tenderness；in short； at the whole
countenance expressive of placidity；has asked the great artist； 〃Is
that a copy of a Raphael？〃 No man ever acted under a truer inspiration
than the minister's secretary when he married this young girl。 Agathe
was an embodiment of the ideal housekeeper brought up in the provinces
and never parted from her mother。 Pious； though far from
sanctimonious； she had no other education than that given to women by
the Church。 Judged； by ordinary standards； she was an accomplished
wife； yet her ignorance of life paved the way for great misfortunes。
The epitaph on the Roman matron； 〃She did needlework and kept the
house；〃 gives a faithful picture of her simple； pure； and tranquil
existence。
Under the Consulate； Bridau attached himself fanatically to Napoleon；
who placed him at the head of a department in the ministry of the
interior in 1804； a year before the death of Doctor Rouget。 With a
salary of twelve thousand francs and very handsome emoluments； Bridau
was quite indifferent to the scandalous settlement of the property at
Issoudun； by which Agathe was deprived of her rightful inheritance。
Six months before Doctor Rouget's death he had sold one…half of his
property to his son； to whom the other half was bequeathed as a gift；
and also in accordance with his rights as heir。 An advance of fifty
thousand francs on her inheritance； made to Agathe at the time of her
marriage； represented her share of the property of her father and
mother。
Bridau idolized the Emperor； and served him with the devotion of a
Mohammedan for his prophet； striving to carry out the vast conceptions
of the modern demi…god； who； finding the whole fabric of France
destroyed； went to work to reconstruct everything。 The new official
never showed fatigue； never cried 〃Enough。〃 Projects； reports； notes；
studies； he accepted all； even the hardest labors； happy in the
consciousness of aiding his Emperor。 He loved him as a man； he adored
him as a sovereign； and he would never allow the least criticism of
his acts or his purposes。
From 1804 to 1808； the Bridaus lived in a handsome suite of rooms on
the Quai Voltaire； a few steps from the ministry of the interior and
close to the Tuileries。 A cook and footman were the only servants of
the household during this period of Madame Bridau's grandeur。 Agathe；
early afoot； went to market with her cook。 While the latter did the
rooms； she prepared the breakfast。 Bridau never went to the ministry
before eleven o'clock。 As long as their union lasted； his wife took
the same unwearying pleasure in preparing for him an exquisite
breakfast； the only meal he really enjoyed。 At all seasons and in all
weathers； Agathe watched her husband from the window as he walked
toward his office； and never drew in her head until she had seen him
turn the corner of the rue du Bac。 Then she cleared the breakfast…
table herself； gave an eye to the arrangement of the rooms； dressed
for the day； played with her children and took them to walk； or
received the visits of friends； all the while waiting in spirit for
Bridau's return。 If her husband brought him important business that
had to be attended to； she would station herself close to the writing…
table in his study； silent as a statue； knitting while he wrote；
sitting up as late as he did； and going to bed only a few moments
before him。 Occasionally； the pair went to some theatre； occupying one
of the ministerial boxes。 On those days； they dined at a restaurant；
and the gay scenes of that establishment never ceased to give Madame
Bridau the same lively pleasure they afford to provincials who are new
to Paris。 Agathe； who was obliged to accept the formal dinners
sometimes given to the head of a department in a ministry； paid due
attention to the luxurious requirements of the then mode of dress； but
she took off the rich apparel with delight when she returned home； and
resumed the simple garb of a provincial。 One day in the week；
Thursday； Bridau received his friends； and he also gave a grand ball；
annually； on Shrove Tuesday。
These few words contain the whole history of their conjugal life；
which had but three events； the births of two children； born three
years apart； and the death of Bridau； who died in 1808； killed by
overwork at the very moment when the Emperor was about to appoint him
director…general； count； and councillor of state。