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local circumstances。 You have to deal with a strong force； that fellow
is very astute。 The way he attempted to get back the pictures your
uncle had given to Joseph； the audacity with which he laid a crime on
your poor brother's shoulders； all go to prove that the adversary is
capable of everything。 Therefore； be prudent； and try to behave
properly out of policy； if you can't do so out of decency。 Without
telling Joseph； whose artist's pride would be up in arms； I have sent
the pictures to Monsieur Hochon； telling him to give them up to no one
but you。 By the way； Maxence Gilet is a brave man。〃
〃So much the better；〃 said Philippe； 〃I count on his courage for
success； a coward would leave Issoudun。〃
〃Well；think of your mother who has been so devoted to you； and of
your brother； whom you made your milch cow。〃
〃Ah！ did he tell you that nonsense？〃 cried Philippe。
〃Am I not the friend of the family； and don't I know much more about
you than they do？〃 asked Desroches。
〃What do you know？〃 said Philippe。
〃That you betrayed your comrades。〃
〃I！〃 exclaimed Philippe。 〃I！ a staff…officer of the Emperor！ Absurd！
Why； we fooled the Chamber of Peers； the lawyers； the government； and
the whole of the damned concern。 The king's people were completely
hood…winked。〃
〃That's all very well； if it was so；〃 answered the lawyer。 〃But； don't
you see； the Bourbons can't be overthrown； all Europe is backing them；
and you ought to try to make your peace with the war department；you
could do that readily enough if you were rich。 To get rich； you and
your brother； you must lay hold of your uncle。 If you will take the
trouble to manage an affair which needs great cleverness； patience；
and caution； you have enough work before you to occupy your five
years。〃
〃No； no；〃 cried Philippe； 〃I must take the bull by the horns at once。
This Maxence may alter the investment of the property and put it in
that woman's name； and then all would be lost。〃
〃Monsieur Hochon is a good adviser； and sees clearly； consult him。 You
have your orders from the police； I have taken your place in the
Orleans diligence for half…past seven o'clock this evening。 I suppose
your trunk is ready； so； now come and dine。〃
〃I own nothing but what I have got on my back；〃 said Philippe； opening
his horrible blue overcoat； 〃but I only need three things； which you
must tell Giroudeau； the uncle of Finot； to send me；my sabre； my
sword； and my pistols。〃
〃You need more than that；〃 said the lawyer； shuddering as he looked at
his client。 〃You will receive a quarterly stipend which will clothe
you decently。〃
〃Bless me！ are you here； Godeschal？〃 cried Philippe； recognizing in
Desroches's head…clerk； as they passed out； the brother of Mariette。
〃Yes； I have been with Monsieur Desroches for the last two months。〃
〃And he will stay with me； I hope； till he gets a business of his
own；〃 said Desroches。
〃How is Mariette？〃 asked Philippe； moved at his recollections。
〃She is getting ready for the opening of the new theatre。〃
〃It would cost her little trouble to get my sentence remitted；〃 said
Philippe。 〃However； as she chooses！〃
After a meagre dinner； given by Desroches who boarded his head…clerk；
the two lawyers put the political convict in the diligence； and wished
him good luck。
CHAPTER XIV
On the second of November； All…Souls' day； Philippe Bridau appeared
before the commissary of police at Issoudun； to have the date of his
arrival recorded on his papers； and by that functionary's advice he
went to lodge in the rue l'Avenier。 The news of the arrival of an
officer； banished on account of the late military conspiracy； spread
rapidly through the town； and caused all the more excitement when it
was known that this officer was a brother of the painter who had been
falsely accused。 Maxence Gilet； by this time entirely recovered from
his wound； had completed the difficult operation of turning all Pere
Rouget's mortgages into money； and putting the proceeds in one sum； on
the 〃grand…livre。〃 The loan of one hundred and forty thousand francs
obtained by the old man on his landed property had caused a great
sensation；for everything is known in the provinces。 Monsieur Hochon；
in the Bridau interest； was much put about by this disaster； and
questioned old Monsieur Heron； the notary at Bourges； as to the object
of it。
〃The heirs of old Rouget； if old Rouget changes his mind； ought to
make me a votive offering；〃 cried Monsieur Heron。 〃If it had not been
for me； the old fellow would have allowed the fifty thousand francs'
income to stand in the name of Maxence Gilet。 I told Mademoiselle
Brazier that she ought to look to the will only； and not run the risk
of a suit for spoliation； seeing what numerous proofs these transfers
in every direction would give against them。 To gain time； I advised
Maxence and his mistress to keep quiet； and let this sudden change in
the usual business habits of the old man be forgotten。〃
〃Protect the Bridaus； for they have nothing；〃 said Monsieur Hochon；
who in addition to all other reasons； could not forgive Gilet the
terrors he had endured when fearing the pillage of his house。
Maxence Gilet and Flore Brazier； now secure against all attack； were
very merry over the arrival of another of old Rouget's nephews。 They
knew they were able； at the first signal of danger； to make the old
man sign a power of attorney under which the money in the Funds could
be transferred either to Max or Flore。 If the will leaving Flore the
principal； should be revoked； an income of fifty thousand francs was a
very tolerable crumb of comfort；more particularly after squeezing
from the real estate that mortgage of a hundred and forty thousand。
The day after his arrival； Philippe called upon his uncle about ten
o'clock in the morning； anxious to present himself in his dilapidated
clothing。 When the convalescent of the Hopital du Midi； the prisoner
of the Luxembourg； entered the room； Flore Brazier felt a shiver pass
over her at the repulsive sight。 Gilet himself was conscious of that
particular disturbance both of mind and body； by which Nature
sometimes warns us of a latent enmity； or a coming danger。 If there
was something indescribably sinister in Philippe's countenance； due to
his recent misfortunes； the effect was heightened by his clothes。 His
forlorn blue great…coat was buttoned in military fashion to the
throat； for painful reasons； and yet it showed much that it pretended
to conceal。 The bottom edges of the trousers； ragged like those of an
almshouse beggar； were the sign of abject poverty。 The boots left wet
splashes on the floor； as the mud oozed from fissures in the soles。
The gray hat； which the colonel held in his hand； was horribly greasy
round the rim。 The malacca cane； from which the polish had long
disappeared； must have stood in all the corners of all the cafes in
Paris； and poked i