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which is only approached by a series of steps。 To give in a few words
an idea of the height of this tower； we may compare it to the obelisk
of Luxor on its pedestal。 The pedestal of the tower of Issoudun； which
hid within its breast such archaeological treasures； was eighty feet
high on the side towards the town。 In an hour the cart was taken off
its wheels and hoisted； piece by piece； to the top of the embankment
at the foot of the tower itself；a work that was somewhat like that
of the soldiers who carried the artillery over the pass of the Grand
Saint…Bernard。 The cart was then remounted on its wheels； and the
Knights； by this time hungry and thirsty； returned to Mere Cognette's；
where they were soon seated round the table in the low room； laughing
at the grimaces Fario would make when he came after his barrow in the
morning。
The Knights； naturally； did not play such capers every night。 The
genius of Sganarelle； Mascarille； and Scapin combined would not have
sufficed to invent three hundred and sixty…five pieces of mischief a
year。 In the first place； circumstances were not always propitious：
sometimes the moon shone clear； or the last prank had greatly
irritated their betters； then one or another of their number refused
to share in some proposed outrage because a relation was involved。 But
if the scamps were not at Mere Cognette's every night； they always met
during the day； enjoying together the legitimate pleasures of hunting；
or the autumn vintages and the winter skating。 Among this assemblage
of twenty youths； all of them at war with the social somnolence of the
place； there are some who were more closely allied than others to Max；
and who made him their idol。 A character like his often fascinates
other youths。 The two grandsons of Madame HochonFrancois Hochon and
Baruch Bornichewere his henchmen。 These young fellows； accepting the
general opinion of the left…handed parentage of Lousteau； looked upon
Max as their cousin。 Max； moreover； was liberal in lending them money
for their pleasures； which their grandfather Hochon refused； he took
them hunting； let them see life； and exercised a much greater
influence over them than their own family。 They were both orphans； and
were kept； although each had attained his majority； under the
guardianship of Monsieur Hochon； for reasons which will be explained
when Monsieur Hochon himself comes upon the scene。
At this particular moment Francois and Baruch （we will call them by
their Christian names for the sake of clearness） were sitting； one on
each side of Max； at the middle of a table that was rather ill lighted
by the fuliginous gleams of four tallow candles of eight to the pound。
A dozen to fifteen bottles of various wines had just been drunk； for
only eleven of the Knights were present。 Baruchwhose name indicates
pretty clearly that Calvinism still kept some hold on Issoudunsaid
to Max； as the wine was beginning to unloose all tongues；
〃You are threatened in your stronghold。〃
〃What do you mean by that？〃 asked Max。
〃Why； my grandmother has had a letter from Madame Bridau； who is her
goddaughter； saying that she and her son are coming here。 My
grandmother has been getting two rooms ready for them。〃
〃What's that to me？〃 said Max； taking up his glass and swallowing the
contents at a gulp with a comic gesture。
Max was then thirty…four years old。 A candle standing near him threw a
gleam upon his soldierly face； lit up his brow； and brought out
admirably his clear skin； his ardent eyes； his black and slightly
curling hair； which had the brilliancy of jet。 The hair grew
vigorously upward from the forehead and temples； sharply defining
those five black tongues which our ancestors used to call the 〃five
points。〃 Notwithstanding this abrupt contrast of black and white；
Max's face was very sweet； owing its charm to an outline like that
which Raphael gave to the faces of his Madonnas； and to a well…cut
mouth whose lips smiled graciously； giving an expression of
countenance which Max had made distinctively his own。 The rich
coloring which blooms on a Berrichon cheek added still further to his
look of kindly good…humor。 When he laughed heartily； he showed thirty…
two teeth worthy of the mouth of a pretty woman。 In height about five
feet six inches； the young man was admirably well…proportioned；
neither too stout nor yet too thin。 His hands； carefully kept； were
white and rather handsome； but his feet recalled the suburb and the
foot…soldier of the Empire。 Max would certainly have made a good
general of division； he had shoulders that were worth a fortune to a
marshal of France； and a breast broad enough to wear all the orders of
Europe。 Every movement betrayed intelligence； born with grace and
charm； like nearly all the children of love； the noble blood of his
real father came out in him。
〃Don't you know； Max；〃 cried the son of a former surgeon…major named
Goddetnow the best doctor in the townfrom the other end of the
table； 〃that Madame Hochon's goddaughter is the sister of Rouget？ If
she is coming here with her son； no doubt she means to make sure of
getting the property when he dies； and thengood…by to your harvest！〃
Max frowned。 Then； with a look which ran from one face to another all
round the table； he watched the effect of this announcement on the
minds of those present； and again replied；
〃What's that to me？〃
〃But；〃 said Francois； 〃I should think that if old Rouget revoked his
will；in case he has made one in favor of the Rabouilleuse〃
Here Max cut short his henchman's speech。 〃I've stopped the mouths of
people who have dared to meddle with you； my dear Francois；〃 he said；
〃and this is the way you pay your debts？ You use a contemptuous
nickname in speaking of a woman to whom I am known to be attached。〃
Max had never before said as much as this about his relations with the
person to whom Francois had just applied a name under which she was
known at Issoudun。 The late prisoner at Cabrerathe major of the
grenadiers of the Guardknew enough of what honor was to judge
rightly as to the causes of the disesteem in which society held him。
He had therefore never allowed any one； no matter who； to speak to him
on the subject of Mademoiselle Flore Brazier； the servant…mistress of
Jean…Jacques Rouget； so energetically termed a 〃slut〃 by the
respectable Madame Hochon。 Everybody knew it was too ticklish a
subject with Max； ever to speak of it unless he began it； and hitherto
he had never begun it。 To risk his anger or irritate him was
altogether too dangerous； so that even his best friends had never
joked him about the Rabouilleuse。 When they talked of his liaison with
the girl before Major Potel and Captain Renard； with whom he lived on
intimate terms； Potel would reply；
〃If he is the natural brother of Jean…Jacques Rouget where else would
you have him live？〃
〃Besides； after all；〃 added Captain Renard； 〃the girl is a worthless
p