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sides with Maxence Gilet； I wish to make their acquaintance。〃
〃Well； there's a captain of the artillery of the Guard； Monsieur
Mignonnet； a man about forty years of age； who was brought up at the
Ecole Polytechnique； and lives in a quiet way。 He is a very honorable
man； and openly disapproves of Max； whose conduct he considers
unworthy of a true soldier。〃
〃Good！〃 remarked the lieutenant…colonel。
〃There are not many soldiers here of that stripe；〃 resumed Monsieur
Hochon； 〃the only other that I know is an old cavalry captain。〃
〃That is my arm；〃 said Philippe。 〃Was he in the Guard？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Monsieur Hochon。 〃Carpentier was； in 1810； sergeant…
major in the dragoons； then he rose to be sub…lieutenant in the line；
and subsequently captain of cavalry。〃
〃Giroudeau may know him；〃 thought Philippe。
〃This Monsieur Carpentier took the place in the mayor's office which
Gilet threw up； he is a friend of Monsieur Mignonnet。〃
〃How can I earn my living here？〃
〃They are going； I think； to establish a mutual insurance agency in
Issoudun； for the department of the Cher； you might get a place in it；
but the pay won't be more than fifty francs a month at the outside。〃
〃That will be enough。〃
At the end of a week Philippe had a new suit of clothes；coat；
waistcoat； and trousers；of good blue Elbeuf cloth； bought on credit；
to be paid for at so much a month； also new boots； buckskin gloves；
and a hat。 Giroudeau sent him some linen； with his weapons and a
letter for Carpentier； who had formerly served under Giroudeau。 The
letter secured him Carpentier's good…will； and the latter presented
him to his friend Mignonnet as a man of great merit and the highest
character。 Philippe won the admiration of these worthy officers by
confiding to them a few facts about the late conspiracy； which was； as
everybody knows； the last attempt of the old army against the
Bourbons； for the affair of the sergeants at La Rochelle belongs to
another order of ideas。
Warned by the fate of the conspiracy of the 19th of August； 1820； and
of those of Berton and Caron； the soldiers of the old army resigned
themselves； after their failure in 1822； to await events。 This last
conspiracy； which grew out of that of the 19th of August； was really a
continuation of the latter； carried on by a better element。 Like its
predecessor； it was absolutely unknown to the royal government。
Betrayed once more； the conspirators had the wit to reduce their vast
enterprise to the puny proportions of a barrack plot。 This conspiracy；
in which several regiments of cavalry； infantry； and artillery were
concerned； had its centre in the north of France。 The strong places
along the frontier were to be captured at a blow。 If success had
followed； the treaties of 1815 would have been broken by a federation
with Belgium； which； by a military compact made among the soldiers；
was to withdraw from the Holy Alliance。 Two thrones would have been
plunged in a moment into the vortex of this sudden cyclone。 Instead of
this formidable schemeconcerted by strong minds and supported by
personages of high rankbeing carried out； one small part of it； and
that only； was discovered and brought before the Court of Peers。
Philippe Bridau consented to screen the leaders； who retired the
moment the plot was discovered （either by treachery or accident）； and
from their seats in both Chambers lent their co…operation to the
inquiry only to work for the ultimate success of their purpose at the
heart of the government。
To recount this scheme； which； since 1830； the Liberals have openly
confessed in all its ramifications； would trench upon the domain of
history and involve too long a digression。 This glimpse of it is
enough to show the double part which Philippe Bridau undertook to
play。 The former staff…officer of the Emperor was to lead a movement
in Paris solely for the purpose of masking the real conspiracy and
occupying the mind of the government at its centre； while the great
struggle should burst forth at the north。 When the latter miscarried
before discovery； Philippe was ordered to break all links connecting
the two plots； and to allow the secrets of the secondary plot only to
become known。 For this purpose； his abject misery； to which his state
of health and his clothing bore witness； was amply sufficient to
undervalue the character of the conspiracy and reduce its proportions
in the eyes of the authorities。 The role was well suited to the
precarious position of the unprincipled gambler。 Feeling himself
astride of both parties； the crafty Philippe played the saint to the
royal government； all the while retaining the good opinion of the men
in high places who were of the other party；determined to cast in his
lot at a later day with whichever side he might then find most to his
advantage。
These revelations as to the vast bearings of the real conspiracy made
Philippe a man of great distinction in the eyes of Carpentier and
Mignonnet； to whom his self…devotion seemed a state…craft worthy of
the palmy days of the Convention。 In a short time the tricky
Bonapartist was seen to be on friendly terms with the two officers；
and the consideration they enjoyed in the town was； of course； shared
by him。 He soon obtained； through their recommendation； the situation
in the insurance office that old Hochon had suggested； which required
only three hours of his day。 Mignonnet and Carpentier put him up at
their club； where his good manners and bearing； in keeping with the
high opinion which the two officers expressed about him； won him a
respect often given to external appearances that are only deceitful。
Philippe； whose conduct was carefully considered and planned； had
indeed made many reflections while in prison as to the inconveniences
of leading a debauched life。 He did not need Desroches's lecture to
understand the necessity of conciliating the people at Issoudun by
decent； sober； and respectable conduct。 Delighted to attract Max's
ridicule by behaving with the propriety of a Mignonnet； he went
further； and endeavored to lull Gilet's suspicions by deceiving him as
to his real character。 He was bent on being taken for a fool by
appearing generous and disinterested； all the while drawing a net
around his adversary； and keeping his eye on his uncle's property。 His
mother and brother； on the contrary； who were really disinterested；
generous； and lofty； had been accused of greed because they had acted
with straightforward simplicity。 Philippe's covetousness was fully
roused by Monsieur Hochon； who gave him all the details of his uncle's
property。 In the first secret conversation which he held with the
octogenarian； they agreed that Philippe must not awaken Max's
suspicions； for the game would be lost if Flore and Max were to carry
off their victim； though no further than Bourges。
Once a week the colonel dined with Mignonnet； another day with
Carpentier； and every Thur