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Jean to the port Vilatte。 The house of old Monsieur Hochon is exactly
opposite that of Jean…Jacques Rouget。 From the windows of the room
where Madame Hochon usually sat； it was easy to see what went on at
the Rouget household； and vice versa； when the curtains were drawn
back or the doors were left open。 The Hochon house was like the Rouget
house； and the two were doubtless built by the same architect。
Monsieur Hochon； formerly tax…collector at Selles in Berry； born；
however； at Issoudun； had returned to his native place and married the
sister of the sub…delegate； the gay Lousteau； exchanging his office at
Selles for another of the same kind at Issoudun。 Having retired before
1787； he escaped the dangers of the Revolution； to whose principles；
however； he firmly adhered； like all other 〃honest men〃 who howl with
the winners。 Monsieur Hochon came honestly by the reputation of miser。
but it would be mere repetition to sketch him here。 A single specimen
of the avarice which made him famous will suffice to make you see
Monsieur Hochon as he was。
At the wedding of his daughter； now dead； who married a Borniche； it
was necessary to give a dinner to the Borniche family。 The bridegroom；
who was heir to a large fortune； had suffered great mortification from
having mismanaged his property； and still more because his father and
mother refused to help him out。 The old people； who were living at the
time of the marriage； were delighted to see Monsieur Hochon step in as
guardian；for the purpose； of course； of making his daughter's dowry
secure。 On the day of the dinner； which was given to celebrate the
signing of the marriage contract； the chief relations of the two
families were assembled in the salon； the Hochons on one side； the
Borniches on the other；all in their best clothes。 While the contract
was being solemnly read aloud by young Heron； the notary； the cook
came into the room and asked Monsieur Hochon for some twine to truss
up the turkey；an essential feature of the repast。 The old man dove
into the pocket of his surtout； pulled out an end of string which had
evidently already served to tie up a parcel； and gave it to her； but
before she could leave the room he called out； 〃Gritte； mind you give
it back to me！〃 （Gritte is the abbreviation used in Berry for
Marguerite。）
From year to year old Hochon grew more petty in his meanness； and more
penurious； and at this time he was eighty…five years old。 He belonged
to the class of men who stop short in the street； in the middle of a
lively dialogue； and stoop to pick up a pin； remarking； as they stick
it in the sleeve of their coat； 〃There's the wife's stipend。〃 He
complained bitterly of the poor quality of the cloth manufactured now…
a…days； and called attention to the fact that his coat had lasted only
ten years。 Tall； gaunt； thin； and sallow； saying little； reading
little； and doing nothing to fatigue himself； as observant of forms as
an oriental；he enforced in his own house a discipline of strict
abstemiousness； weighing and measuring out the food and drink of the
family； which； indeed； was rather numerous； and consisted of his wife；
nee Lousteau； his grandson Borniche with a sister Adolphine； the heirs
of old Borniche； and lastly； his other grandson； Francois Hochon。
Hochon's eldest son was taken by the draft of 1813； which drew in the
sons of well…to…do families who had escaped the regular conscription；
and were now formed into a corps styled the 〃guards of honor。〃 This
heir…presumptive； who was killed at Hanau； had married early in life a
rich woman； intending thereby to escape all conscriptions； but after
he was enrolled； he wasted his substance； under a presentiment of his
end。 His wife； who followed the army at a distance； died at Strasburg
in 1814； leaving debts which her father…in…law Hochon refused to pay；
answering the creditors with an axiom of ancient law； 〃Women are
minors。〃
The house； though large； was scantily furnished； on the second floor；
however； there were two rooms suitable for Madame Bridau and Joseph。
Old Hochon now repented that he had kept them furnished with two beds；
each bed accompanied by an old armchair of natural wood covered with
needlework； and a walnut table； on which figured a water…pitcher of
the wide…mouthed kind called 〃gueulard；〃 standing in a basin with a
blue border。 The old man kept his winter store of apples and pears；
medlars and quinces on heaps of straw in these rooms； where the rats
and mice ran riot； so that they exhaled a mingled odor of fruit and
vermin。 Madame Hochon now directed that everything should be cleaned；
the wall…paper； which had peeled off in places； was fastened up again
with wafers； and she decorated the windows with little curtains which
she pieced together from old hoards of her own。 Her husband having
refused to let her buy a strip of drugget； she laid down her own
bedside carpet for her little Agathe；〃Poor little thing！〃 as she
called the mother； who was now over forty…seven years old。 Madame
Hochon borrowed two night…tables from a neighbor； and boldly hired two
chests of drawers with brass handles from a dealer in second…hand
furniture who lived next to Mere Cognette。 She herself had preserved
two pairs of candlesticks； carved in choice woods by her own father；
who had the 〃turning〃 mania。 From 1770 to 1780 it was the fashion
among rich people to learn a trade； and Monsieur Lousteau； the father；
was a turner； just as Louis XVI。 was a locksmith。 These candlesticks
were ornamented with circlets made of the roots of rose； peach； and
apricot trees。 Madame Hochon actually risked the use of her precious
relics！ These preparations and this sacrifice increased old Hochon's
anxiety； up to this time he had not believed in the arrival of the
Bridaus。
The morning of the day that was celebrated by the trick on Fario；
Madame Hochon said to her husband after breakfast：
〃I hope； Hochon； that you will receive my goddaughter； Madame Bridau；
properly。〃 Then； after making sure that her grandchildren were out of
hearing； she added： 〃I am mistress of my own property； don't oblige me
to make up to Agathe in my will for any incivility on your part。〃
〃Do you think； madame；〃 answered Hochon； in a mild voice； 〃that； at my
age； I don't know the forms of decent civility？〃
〃You know very well what I mean； you crafty old thing！ Be friendly to
our guests； and remember that I love Agathe。〃
〃And you love Maxence Gilet also； who is getting the property away
from your dear Agathe！ Ah！ you've warmed a viper in your bosom there；
but after all； the Rouget money is bound to go to a Lousteau。〃
After making this allusion to the supposed parentage and both Max and
Agathe； Hochon turned to leave the room； but old Madame Hochon； a
woman still erect and spare； wearing a round cap with ribbon knots and
her hair powdered； a taffet petticoat of changeable colors like a
pigeon's breast； tight sleeves； and her feet in high…he