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off their victim； though no further than Bourges。
Once a week the colonel dined with Mignonnet； another day with
Carpentier； and every Thursday with Monsieur Hochon。 At the end of
three weeks he received other invitations for the remaining days； so
that he had little more than his breakfast to provide。 He never spoke
of his uncle； nor of the Rabouilleuse； nor of Gilet； unless it were in
connection with his mother and his brother's stay in Issoudun。 The
three officersthe only soldiers in the town who were decorated； and
among whom Philippe had the advantage of the rosette； which in the
eyes of all provincials gave him a marked superioritytook a habit of
walking together every day before dinner； keeping； as the saying is；
to themselves。 This reserve and tranquillity of demeanor had an
excellent effect on Issoudun。 All Max's adherents thought Philippe a
〃sabreur；〃an expression applied by soldiers to the commonest sort of
courage in their superior officers； while denying that they possess
the requisite qualities of a commander。
〃He is a very honorable man；〃 said Goddet the surgeon； to Max。
〃Bah！〃 replied Gilet； 〃his behavior before the Court of Peers proves
him to have been either a dupe or a spy； he is； as you say； ninny
enough to have been duped by the great players。〃
After obtaining his situation； Philippe； who was well informed as to
the gossip of the town； wished to conceal certain circumstances of his
present life as much as possible from the knowledge of the
inhabitants； he therefore went to live in a house at the farther end
of the faubourg Saint…Paterne； to which was attached a large garden。
Here he was able in the utmost secrecy to fence with Carpentier； who
had been a fencing…master in the infantry before entering the cavalry。
Philippe soon recovered his early dexterity； and learned other and new
secrets from Carpentier； which convinced him that he need not fear the
prowess of any adversary。 This done； he began openly to practise with
pistols； with Mignonnet and Carpentier； declaring it was for
amusement； but really intending to make Max believe that； in case of a
duel； he should rely on that weapon。 Whenever Philippe met Gilet he
waited for him to bow first； and answered the salutation by touching
the brim of his hat cavalierly； as an officer acknowledges the salute
of a private。 Maxence Gilet gave no sign of impatience or displeasure；
he never uttered a single word about Bridau at the Cognettes' where he
still gave suppers； although； since Fario's attack； the pranks of the
Order of Idleness were temporarily suspended。
After a while； however； the contempt shown by Lieutenant…colonel
Bridau for the former cavalry captain； Gilet； was a settled fact；
which certain Knights of Idleness； who were less bound to Max than
Francois； Baruch； and three or four others； discussed among
themselves。 They were much surprised to see the violent and fiery Max
behave with such discretion。 No one in Issoudun； not even Potel or
Renard； dared broach so delicate a subject with him。 Potel； somewhat
disturbed by this open misunderstanding between two heroes of the
Imperial Guard； suggested that Max might be laying a net for the
colonel； he asserted that some new scheme might be looked for from the
man who had got rid of the mother and one brother by making use of
Fario's attack upon him； the particulars of which were now no longer a
mystery。 Monsieur Hochon had taken care to reveal the truth of Max's
atrocious accusation to the best people of the town。 Thus it happened
that in talking over the situation of the lieutenant…colonel in
relation to Max； and in trying to guess what might spring from their
antagonism； the whole town regarded the two men； from the start； as
adversaries。
Philippe； who had carefully investigated all the circumstances of his
brother's arrest and the antecedents of Gilet and the Rabouilleuse；
was finally brought into rather close relations with Fario； who lived
near him。 After studying the Spaniard； Philippe thought he might trust
a man of that quality。 The two found their hatred so firm a bond of
union； that Fario put himself at Philippe's disposal； and related all
that he knew about the Knights of Idleness。 Philippe promised； in case
he succeeded in obtaining over his uncle the power now exercised by
Gilet； to indemnify Fario for his losses； this bait made the Spaniard
his henchman。 Maxence was now face to face with a dangerous foe； he
had； as they say in those parts； some one to handle。 Roused by much
gossip and various rumors； the town of Issoudun expected a mortal
combat between the two men； who； we must remark； mutually despised
each other。
One morning； toward the end of November； Philippe met Monsieur Hochon
about twelve o'clock； in the long avenue of Frapesle； and said to
him：
〃I have discovered that your grandsons Baruch and Francois are the
intimate friends of Maxence Gilet。 The rascals are mixed up in all the
pranks that are played about this town at night。 It was through them
that Maxence knew what was said in your house when my mother and
brother were staying there。〃
〃How did you get proof of such a monstrous thing？〃
〃I overheard their conversation one night as they were leaving a
drinking…shop。 Your grandsons both owe Max more than three thousand
francs。 The scoundrel told the lads to try and find out our
intentions； he reminded them that you had once thought of getting
round my uncle by priestcraft； and declared that nobody but you could
guide me； for he thinks； fortunately； that I am nothing more than a
'sabreur。'〃
〃My grandsons！ is it possible？〃
〃Watch them；〃 said Philippe。 〃You will see them coming home along the
place Saint…Jean； at two or three o'clock in the morning； as tipsy as
champagne…corks； and in company with Gilet〃
〃That's why the scamps keep so sober at home！〃 cried Monsieur Hochon。
〃Fario has told me all about their nocturnal proceedings；〃 resumed
Philippe； 〃without him； I should never have suspected them。 My uncle
is held down under an absolute thraldom； if I may judge by certain
things which the Spaniard has heard Max say to your boys。 I suspect
Max and the Rabouilleuse of a scheme to make sure of the fifty
thousand francs' income from the Funds； and then； after pulling that
feather from their pigeon's wing； to run away； I don't know where； and
get married。 It is high time to know what is going on under my uncle's
roof； but I don't see how to set about it。〃
〃I will think of it；〃 said the old man。
They separated； for several persons were now approaching。
Never； at any time in his life； did Jean…Jacques suffer as he had done
since the first visit of his nephew Philippe。 Flore was terrified by
the presentiment of some evil that threatened Max。 Weary of her
master； and fearing that he might live to be very old； since he was
able to bear up under their criminal practices； she formed the very
simple plan of leaving