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Carpentier； a cavalry officer risen from the ranks； had married into
one of the best families in the town；the Borniche…Herau。 Mignonnet；
brought up at the Ecole Polytechnique； had served in a corps which
held itself superior to all others。 In the Imperial armies there were
two shades of distinction among the soldiers themselves。 A majority of
them felt a contempt for the bourgeois； the 〃civilian；〃 fully equal to
the contempt of nobles for their serfs； or conquerors for the
conquered。 Such men did not always observe the laws of honor in their
dealings with civilians； nor did they much blame those who rode rough…
shod over the bourgeoisie。 The others； and particularly the artillery；
perhaps because of its republicanism； never adopted the doctrine of a
military France and a civil France； the tendency of which was nothing
less than to make two nations。 So； although Major Potel and Captain
Renard； two officers living in the Rome suburb； were friends to
Maxence Gilet 〃through thick and thin；〃 Major Mignonnet and Captain
Carpentier took sides with the bourgeoisie； and thought his conduct
unworthy of a man of honor。
Major Mignonnet； a lean little man； full of dignity； busied himself
with the problems which the steam…engine requires us to solve； and
lived in a modest way； taking his social intercourse with Monsieur and
Madame Carpentier。 His gentle manners and ways； and his scientific
occupations won him the respect of the whole town； and it was
frequently said of him and of Captain Carpentier that they were 〃quite
another thing〃 from Major Potel and Captain Renard； Maxence； and other
frequenters of the cafe Militaire； who retained the soldierly manners
and the defective morals of the Empire。
At the time when Madame Bridau returned to Issoudun； Max was excluded
from the society of the place。 He showed； moreover； proper
self…respect in never presenting himself at the club； and in never
complaining of the severe reprobation that was shown him； although he
was the handsomest； the most elegant； and the best dressed man in the
place； spent a great deal of money； and kept a horse；a thing as
amazing at Issoudun as the horse of Lord Byron at Venice。 We are now
to see how it was that Maxence； poor and without apparent means； was
able to become the dandy of the town。 The shameful conduct which
earned him the contempt of all scrupulous or religious persons was
connected with the interests which brought Agathe and Joseph to
Issoudun。
Judging by the audacity of his bearing； and the expression of his
face； Max cared little for public opinion； he expected； no doubt； to
take his revenge some day； and to lord it over those who now condemned
him。 Moreover； if the bourgeoisie of Issoudun thought ill of him； the
admiration he excited among the common people counterbalanced their
opinion； his courage； his dashing appearance； his decision of
character； could not fail to please the masses； to whom his
degradations were； for the most part； unknown； and indeed the
bourgeoisie themselves scarcely suspected its extent。 Max played a
role at Issoudun which was something like that of the blacksmith in
the 〃Fair Maid of Perth〃； he was the champion of Bonapartism and the
Opposition； they counted upon him as the burghers of Perth counted
upon Smith on great occasions。 A single incident will put this hero
and victim of the Hundred…Days into clear relief。
In 1819； a battalion commanded by royalist officers； young men just
out of the Maison Rouge； passed through Issoudun on its way to go into
garrison at Bourges。 Not knowing what to do with themselves in so
constitutional a place as Issoudun； these young gentlemen went to
while away the time at the cafe Militaire。 In every provincial town
there is a military cafe。 That of Issoudun； built on the place d'Armes
at an angle of the rampart； and kept by the widow of an officer； was
naturally the rendezvous of the Bonapartists； chiefly officers on
half…pay； and others who shared Max's opinions； to whom the politics
of the town allowed free expression of their idolatry for the Emperor。
Every year； dating from 1816； a banquet was given in Issoudun to
commemorate the anniversary of his coronation。 The three royalists who
first entered asked for the newspapers； among others； for the
〃Quotidienne〃 and the 〃Drapeau Blanc。〃 The politics of Issoudun；
especially those of the cafe Militaire； did not allow of such royalist
journals。 The establishment had none but the 〃Commerce；〃a name which
the 〃Constitutionel〃 was compelled to adopt for several years after it
was suppressed by the government。 But as； in its first issue under the
new name； the leading article began with these words； 〃Commerce is
essentially constitutional；〃 people continued to call it the
〃Constitutionel；〃 the subscribers all understanding the sly play of
words which begged them to pay no attention to the label； as the wine
would be the same。
The fat landlady replied from her seat at the desk that she did not
take those papers。 〃What papers do you take then？〃 asked one of the
officers； a captain。 The waiter； a little fellow in a blue cloth
jacket； with an apron of coarse linen tied over it； brought the
〃Commerce。〃
〃Is that your paper？ Have you no other？〃
〃No；〃 said the waiter； 〃that's the only one。〃
The captain tore it up； flung the pieces on the floor； and spat upon
them； calling out；
〃Bring dominos！〃
In ten minutes the news of the insult offered to the Constitution
Opposition and the Liberal party； in the supersacred person of its
revered journal； which attacked priests with courage and the wit we
all remember； spread throughout the town and into the houses like
light itself； it was told and repeated from place to place。 One phrase
was on everybody's lips；
〃Let us tell Max！〃
Max soon heard of it。 The royalist officers were still at their game
of dominos when that hero entered the cafe； accompanied by Major Potel
and Captain Renard； and followed by at least thirty young men； curious
to see the end of the affair； most of whom remained outside in the
street。 The room was soon full。
〃Waiter； MY newspaper；〃 said Max； in a quiet voice。
Then a little comedy was played。 The fat hostess； with a timid and
conciliatory air； said； 〃Captain； I have lent it！〃
〃Send for it；〃 cried one of Max's friends。
〃Can't you do without it？〃 said the waiter； 〃we have not got it。〃
The young royalists were laughing and casting sidelong glances at the
new…comers。
〃They have torn it up！〃 cried a youth of the town； looking at the feet
of the young royalist captain。
〃Who has dared to destroy that paper？〃 demanded Max； in a thundering
voice； his eyes flashing as he rose with his arms crossed。
〃And we spat upon it；〃 replied the three young officers； also rising；
and looking at Max。
〃You have insulted the whole town！〃 said Max； turning livid。
〃Well； what of that？〃 asked the youngest officer。