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〃My dear Joseph；〃 said Madame Hochon； following him as he left the
table； 〃I don't know anything about your uncle's pictures； but they
ought to be good； judging by the places from which they came。 If they
are worth only forty thousand francs；a thousand francs apiece；tell
no one。 Though my grandsons are discreet and well…behaved； they might；
without intending harm； speak of this windfall； it would be known all
over Issoudun； and it is very important that our adversaries should
not suspect it。 You behave like a child！〃
In fact； before evening many persons in Issoudun； including Max； were
informed of this estimate； which had the immediate effect of causing a
search for all the old paintings which no one had ever cared for； and
the appearance of many execrable daubs。 Max repented having driven the
old man into giving away the pictures； and the rage he felt against
the heirs after hearing from Baruch old Hochon's ecclesiastical
scheme； was increased by what he termed his own stupidity。 The
influence of religion upon such a feeble creature as Rouget was the
one thing to fear。 The news brought by his two comrades decided
Maxence Gilet to turn all Rouget's investments into money； and to
borrow upon his landed property； so as to buy into the Funds as soon
as possible； but he considered it even more important to get rid of
the Parisians at once。 The genius of the Mascarilles and Scapins out
together would hardly have solved the latter problem easily。
Flore； acting by Max's advice； pretended that Monsieur was too feeble
to take walks； and that he ought； at his age； to have a carriage。 This
pretext grew out of the necessity of not exciting inquiry when they
went to Bourges； Vierzon； Chateauroux； Vatan； and all the other places
where the project of withdrawing investments obliged Max and Flore to
betake themselves with Rouget。 At the close of the week； all Issoudun
was amazed to learn that the old man had gone to Bourges to buy a
carriage；a step which the Knights of Idleness regarded as favorable
to the Rabouilleuse。 Flore and Max selected a hideous 〃berlingot；〃
with cracked leather curtains and windows without glass； aged twenty…
two years and nine campaigns； sold on the decease of a colonel； the
friend of grand…marshal Bertrand； who； during the absence of that
faithful companion of the Emperor； was left in charge of the affairs
of Berry。 This 〃berlingot；〃 painted bright green； was somewhat like a
caleche； though shafts had taken the place of a pole； so that it could
be driven with one horse。 It belonged to a class of carriages brought
into vogue by diminished fortunes； which at that time bore the candid
name of 〃demi…fortune〃； at its first introduction it was called a
〃seringue。〃 The cloth lining of this demi…fortune； sold under the name
of caleche； was moth…eaten； its gimps looked like the chevrons of an
old Invalide； its rusty joints squeaked；but it only cost four
hundred and fifty francs； and Max bought a good stout mare； trained to
harness； from an officer of a regiment then stationed at Bourges。 He
had the carriage repainted a dark brown； and bought a tolerable
harness at a bargain。 The whole town of Issoudun was shaken to its
centre in expectation of Pere Rouget's equipage； and on the occasion
of its first appearance； every household was on its door…step and
curious faces were at all the windows。
The second time the old bachelor went out he drove to Bourges； where；
to escape the trouble of attending personally to the business； or； if
you prefer it； being ordered to do so by Flore； he went before a
notary and signed a power of attorney in favor of Maxence Gilet；
enabling him to make all the transfers enumerated in the document。
Flore reserved to herself the business of making Monsieur sell out the
investments in Issoudun and its immediate neighborhood。 The principal
notary in Bourges was requested by Rouget to get him a loan of one
hundred and forty thousand francs on his landed estate。 Nothing was
known at Issoudun of these proceedings； which were secretly and
cleverly carried out。 Maxence； who was a good rider； went with his own
horse to Bourges and back between five in the morning and five in the
afternoon。 Flore never left the old bachelor。 Rouget consented without
objection to the action Flore dictated to him； but he insisted that
the investment in the Funds； producing fifty thousand francs a year；
should stand in Flore's name as holding a life…interest only； and in
his as owner of the principal。 The tenacity the old man displayed in
the domestic disputes which this idea created caused Max a good deal
of anxiety； he thought he could see the result of reflections inspired
by the sight of the natural heirs。
Amid all these movements； which Max concealed from the knowledge of
everyone； he forgot the Spaniard and his granary。 Fario came back to
Issoudun to deliver his corn； after various trips and business
manoeuvres undertaken to raise the price of cereals。 The morning after
his arrival he noticed that the roof the church of the Capuchins was
black with pigeons。 He cursed himself for having neglected to examine
its condition； and hurried over to look into his storehouse； where he
found half his grain devoured。 Thousands of mice…marks and rat…marks
scattered about showed a second cause of ruin。 The church was a
Noah's…ark。 But anger turned the Spaniard white as a bit of cambric
when； trying to estimate the extent of the destruction and his
consequence losses； he noticed that the grain at the bottom of the
heap； near the floor； was sprouting from the effects of water； which
Max had managed to introduce by means of tin tubes into the very
centre of the pile of wheat。 The pigeons and the rats could be
explained by animal instinct； but the hand of man was plainly visible
in this last sign of malignity。
Fario sat down on the steps of a chapel altar； holding his head
between his hands。 After half an hour of Spanish reflections； he spied
the squirrel； which Goddet could not refrain from giving him as a
guest； playing with its tail upon a cross…beam； on the middle of which
rested one of the uprights that supported the roof。 The Spaniard rose
and turned to his watchman with a face that was as calm and cold as an
Arab's。 He made no complaint； but went home； hired laborers to gather
into sacks what remained of the sound grain； and to spread in the sun
all that was moist； so as to save as much as possible； then； after
estimating that his losses amounted to about three fifths； he attended
to filling his orders。 But his previous manipulations of the market
had raised the price of cereals； and he lost on the three fifths he
was obliged to buy to fill his orders； so that his losses amounted
really to more than half。 The Spaniard； who had no enemies； at once
attributed this revenge to Gilet。 He was convinced that Maxence and
some others were the authors of all the nocturnal mischief； and had in
all probability carried his ca