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The kind…heartedness of the old woman； who thus drew her own
predicament； pleased the artist。
〃I have lived fifty years with that man； without ever hearing half…a…
dozen gold pieces chink in my purse；〃 she went on。 〃Oh！ if I did not
hope that you might save your property； I would never have brought you
and your mother into my prison。〃
〃But how can you survive it？〃 cried Joseph naively； with the gayety
which a French artist never loses。
〃Ah； you may well ask！〃 she said。 〃I pray。〃
Joseph quivered as he heard the words； which raised the old woman so
much in his estimation that he stepped back a little way to look into
her face； it was radiant with so tender a serenity that he said to
her；
〃Let me paint your portrait。〃
〃No； no；〃 she answered； 〃I am too weary of life to wish to remain here
on canvas。〃
Gayly uttering the sad words； she opened a closet； and brought out a
flask containing ratafia； a domestic manufacture of her own； the
receipt for which she obtained from the far…famed nuns to whom is also
due the celebrated cake of Issoudun；one of the great creations of
French confectionery； which no chef； cook； pastry…cook； or
confectioner has ever been able to reproduce。 Monsieur de Riviere；
ambassador at Constantinople； ordered enormous quantities every year
for the Seraglio。
Adolphine held a lacquer tray on which were a number of little old
glasses with engraved sides and gilt edges； and as her mother filled
each of them； she carried it to the company。
〃It seems as though my father's turn were coming round！〃 exclaimed
Agathe； to whom this immutable provincial custom recalled the scenes
of her youth。
〃Hochon will go to his club presently to read the papers； and we shall
have a little time to ourselves；〃 said the old lady in a low voice。
In fact； ten minutes later； the three women and Joseph were alone in
the salon； where the floor was never waxed； only swept； and the
worsted…work designs in oaken frames with grooved mouldings； and all
the other plain and rather dismal furniture seemed to Madame Bridau to
be in exactly the same state as when she had left Issoudun。 Monarchy；
Revolution； Empire； and Restoration； which respected little； had
certainly respected this room where their glories and their disasters
had left not the slightest trace。
〃Ah！ my godmother； in comparison with your life； mine has been cruelly
tried；〃 exclaimed Madame Bridau； surprised to find even a canary which
she had known when alive； stuffed； and standing on the mantleshelf
between the old clock； the old brass brackets； and the silver
candlesticks。
〃My child；〃 said the old lady； 〃trials are in the heart。 The greater
and more necessary the resignation； the harder the struggle with our
own selves。 But don't speak of me； let us talk of your affairs。 You
are directly in front of the enemy；〃 she added； pointing to the
windows of the Rouget house。
〃They are sitting down to dinner；〃 said Adolphine。
The young girl； destined for a cloister； was constantly looking out of
the window； in hopes of getting some light upon the enormities imputed
to Maxence Gilet； the Rabouilleuse； and Jean…Jacques； of which a few
words reached her ears whenever she was sent out of the room that
others might talk about them。 The old lady now told her granddaughter
to leave her alone with Madame Bridau and Joseph until the arrival of
visitors。
〃For；〃 she said； turning to the Parisians； 〃I know my Issoudun by
heart； we shall have ten or twelve batches of inquisitive folk here
to…night。〃
In fact Madame Hochon had hardly related the events and the details
concerning the astounding influence obtained by Maxence Gilet and the
Rabouilleuse over Jean…Jacques Rouget （without； of course； following
the synthetical method with which they have been presented here）；
adding the many comments； descriptions； and hypotheses with which the
good and evil tongues of the town embroidered them； before Adolphine
announced the approach of the Borniche； Beaussier； Lousteau…Prangin；
Fichet； Goddet…Herau families； in all； fourteen persons looming in the
distance。
〃You now see； my dear child；〃 said the old lady； concluding her tale；
〃that it will not be an easy matter to get this property out of the
jaws of the wolf〃
〃It seems to me so difficultwith a scoundrel such as you represent
him； and a daring woman like that crab…girlas to be actually
impossible；〃 remarked Joseph。 〃We should have to stay a year in
Issoudun to counteract their influence and overthrow their dominion
over my uncle。 Money isn't worth such a struggle；not to speak of the
meannesses to which we should have to condescend。 My mother has only
two weeks' leave of absence； her place is a permanent one； and she
must not risk it。 As for me； in the month of October I have an
important work； which Schinner has just obtained for me from a peer of
France； so you see； madame； my future fortune is in my brushes。〃
This speech was received by Madame Hochon with much amazement。 Though
relatively superior to the town she lived in； the old lady did not
believe in painting。 She glanced at her goddaughter； and again pressed
her hand。
〃This Maxence is the second volume of Philippe；〃 whispered Joseph in
his mother's ear； 〃only cleverer and better behaved。 Well； madame；〃
he said； aloud； we won't trouble Monsieur Hochon by staying very
long。〃
〃Ah！ you are young； you know nothing of the world；〃 said the old lady。
〃A couple of weeks； if you are judicious； may produce great results；
listen to my advice； and act accordingly。〃
〃Oh！ willingly；〃 said Joseph； 〃I know I have a perfectly amazing
incapacity for domestic statesmanship： for example； I am sure I don't
know what Desroches himself would tell us to do if my uncle declines
to see us。〃
Mesdames Borniche； Goddet…Herau； Beaussier； Lousteau…Prangin and
Fichet； decorated with their husbands； here entered the room。
When the fourteen persons were seated； and the usual compliments were
over； Madame Hochon presented her goddaughter Agathe and Joseph。
Joseph sat in his armchair all the evening； engaged in slyly studying
the sixty faces which； from five o'clock until half past nine； posed
for him gratis； as he afterwards told his mother。 Such behavior before
the aristocracy of Issoudun did not tend to change the opinion of the
little town concerning him： every one went home ruffled by his
sarcastic glances； uneasy under his smiles； and even frightened at his
face； which seemed sinister to a class of people unable to recognize
the singularities of genius。
After ten o'clock； when the household was in bed； Madame Hochon kept
her goddaughter in her chamber until midnight。 Secure from
interruption； the two women told each other the sorrows of their
lives； and exchanged their sufferings。 As Agathe listened to the last
echoes of a soul that had missed its destiny； and felt the sufferings
of a heart； essen