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！
talk about all thatthen you can make him the offer to come and live
here。 If he makes any objection； never mind； I shall know how to
settle it。〃
Walking slowly along the boulevard Baron； the old celibate reflected；
as much as he had the mind to reflect； over this incident。 If he were
to part from Flore （the mere thought confused him） where could he find
another woman？ Should he marry？ At his age he should be married for
his money； and a legitimate wife would use him far more cruelly than
Flore。 Besides； the thought of being deprived of her tenderness； even
if it were a mere pretence； caused him horrible anguish。 He was
therefore as polite to Captain Gilet as he knew how to be。 The
invitation was given； as Flore had requested； before witnesses； to
guard the hero's honor from all suspicion。
A reconciliation took place between Flore and her master； but from
that day forth Jean…Jacques noticed many a trifle that betokened a
total change in his mistress's affections。 For two or three weeks
Flore Brazier complained to the tradespeople in the markets； and to
the women with whom she gossiped； about Monsieur Rouget's tyranny；
how he had taken it into his head to invite his self…styled natural
brother to live with him。 No one； however； was taken in by this
comedy； and Flore was looked upon as a wonderfully clever and artful
creature。 Old Rouget really found himself very comfortable after Max
became the master of his house； for he thus gained a companion who
paid him many attentions； without； however； showing any servility。
Gilet talked； discussed politics； and sometimes went to walk with
Rouget。 After Max was fairly installed； Flore did not choose to do the
cooking； she said it spoiled her hands。 At the request of the grand
master of the Order of the Knights of Idleness； Mere Cognette produced
one of her relatives； an old maid whose master； a curate； had lately
died without leaving her anything；an excellent cook； withal；who
declared she would devote herself for life or death to Max and Flore。
In the name of the two powers； Mere Cognette promised her an annuity
of three hundred francs a year at the end of ten years； if she served
them loyally； honestly； and discreetly。 The Vedie； as she was called；
was noticeable for a face deeply pitted by the small…pox； and
correspondingly ugly。
After the new cook had entered upon her duties； the Rabouilleuse took
the title of Madame Brazier。 She wore corsets； she had silk； or
handsome woollen and cotton dresses； according to the season；
expensive neckerchiefs； embroidered caps and collars； lace ruffles at
her throat； boots instead of shoes； and； altogether； adopted a
richness and elegance of apparel which renewed the youthfulness of her
appearance。 She was like a rough diamond； that needed cutting and
mounting by a jeweller to bring out its full value。 Her desire was to
do honor to Max。 At the end of the first year； in 1817； she brought a
horse； styled English； from Bourges； for the poor cavalry captain； who
was weary of going afoot。 Max had picked up in the purlieus of
Issoudun an old lancer of the Imperial Guard； a Pole named Kouski； now
very poor； who asked nothing better than to quarter himself in
Monsieur Rouget's house as the captain's servant。 Max was Kouski's
idol； especially after the duel with the three royalists。 So； from
1817； the household of the old bachelor was made up of five persons；
three of whom were masters； and the expenses advanced to about eight
thousand francs a year。
CHAPTER X
At the time when Madame Bridau returned to Issoudun to saveas Maitre
Desroches expressed itan inheritance that was seriously threatened；
Jean…Jacques Rouget had reached by degrees a condition that was semi…
vegetative。 In the first place； after Max's instalment； Flore put the
table on an episcopal footing。 Rouget； thrown in the way of good
living； ate more and still more； enticed by the Vedie's excellent
dishes。 He grew no fatter； however； in spite of this abundant and
luxurious nourishment。 From day to day he weakened like a worn…out
man；fatigued； perhaps； with the effort of digestion；and his eyes
had dark circles around them。 Still； when his friends and neighbors
met him in his walks and questioned him about his health； he always
answered that he was never better in his life。 As he had always been
thought extremely deficient in mind； people did not notice the
constant lowering of his faculties。 His love for Flore was the one
thing that kept him alive； in fact； he existed only for her； and his
weakness in her presence was unbounded； he obeyed the creature's mere
look； and watched her movements as a dog watches every gesture of his
master。 In short； as Madame Hochon remarked； at fifty…seven years of
age he seemed older than Monsieur Hochon； an octogenarian。
Every one will suppose； and with reason； that Max's appartement was
worthy of so charming a fellow。 In fact； in the course of six years
our captain had by degrees perfected the comfort of his abode and
adorned every detail of it； as much for his own pleasure as for
Flore's。 But it was； after all； only the comfort and luxury of
Issoudun；colored tiles； rather elegant wallpapers； mahogany
furniture； mirrors in gilt frames； muslin curtains with red borders； a
bed with a canopy； and draperies arranged as the provincial
upholsterers arrange them for a rich bride； which in the eyes of
Issoudun seemed the height of luxury； but are so common in vulgar
fashion…plates that even the petty shopkeepers in Paris have discarded
them at their weddings。 One very unusual thing appeared； which caused
much talk in Issoudun； namely； a rush…matting on the stairs； no doubt
to muffle the sound of feet。 In fact； though Max was in the habit of
coming in at daybreak； he never woke any one； and Rouget was far from
suspecting that his guest was an accomplice in the nocturnal
performances of the Knights of Idleness。
About eight o'clock the next morning； Flore； wearing a dressing…gown
of some pretty cotton stuff with narrow pink stripes； a lace cap on
her head； and her feet in furred slippers； softly opened the door of
Max's chamber； seeing that he slept； she remained standing beside the
bed。
〃He came in so late！〃 she said to herself。 〃It was half…past three。 He
must have a good constitution to stand such amusements。 Isn't he
strong； the dear love！ I wonder what they did last night。〃
〃Oh； there you are； my little Flore！〃 said Max； waking like a soldier
trained by the necessities of war to have his wits and his self…
possession about him the instant that he waked； however suddenly it
might happen。
〃You are sleepy； I'll go away。〃
〃No； stay； there's something serious going on。〃
〃Were you up to some mischief last night？〃
〃Ah； bah！ It concerns you and me and that old fool。 You never told me
he had a family！ Well； his family are coming；coming here；no doubt
to turn us out； neck and crop。〃
〃Ah！ I'll shake him