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able to bear up under their criminal practices； she formed the very
simple plan of leaving Issoudun and being married to Maxence in Paris；
after obtaining from Jean…Jacques the transfer of the income in the
Funds。 The old bachelor； guided； not by any justice to his family； nor
by personal avarice； but solely by his passion； steadily refused to
make the transfer； on the ground that Flore was to be his sole heir。
The unhappy creature knew to what extent Flore loved Max； and he
believed he would be abandoned the moment she was made rich enough to
marry。 When Flore； after employing the tenderest cajoleries； was
unable to succeed； she tried rigor； she no longer spoke to her master；
Vedie was sent to wait upon him； and found him in the morning with his
eyes swollen and red with weeping。 For a week or more； poor Rouget had
breakfasted alone； and Heaven knows on what food！
The day after Philippe's conversation with Monsieur Hochon； he
determined to pay a second visit to his uncle； whom he found much
changed。 Flore stayed beside the old man； speaking tenderly and
looking at him with much affection； she played the comedy so well that
Philippe guessed some immediate danger； merely from the solicitude
thus displayed in his presence。 Gilet； whose policy it was to avoid
all collision with Philippe； did not appear。 After watching his uncle
and Flore for a time with a discerning eye； the colonel judged that
the time had come to strike his grand blow。
〃Adieu； my dear uncle；〃 he said； rising as if to leave the house。
〃Oh！ don't go yet；〃 cried the old man； who was comforted by Flore's
false tenderness。 〃Dine with us； Philippe。〃
〃Yes； if you will come and take a walk with me。〃
〃Monsieur is very feeble；〃 interposed Mademoiselle Brazier； 〃just now
he was unwilling even to go out in the carriage；〃 she added； turning
upon the old man the fixed look with which keepers quell a maniac。
Philippe took Flore by the arm； compelling her to look at him； and
looking at her in return as fixedly as she had just looked at her
victim。
〃Tell me； mademoiselle；〃 he said； 〃is it a fact that my uncle is not
free to take a walk with me？〃
〃Why； yes he is； monsieur；〃 replied Flore； who was unable to make any
other answer。
〃Very well。 Come； uncle。 Mademoiselle； give him his hat and cane。〃
〃Buthe never goes out without me。 Do you； monsieur？〃
〃Yes； Philippe； yes； I always want her〃
〃It would be better to take the carriage；〃 said Flore。
〃Yes； let us take the carriage；〃 cried the old man； in his anxiety to
make his two tyrants agree。
〃Uncle； you will come with me； alone； and on foot； or I shall never
return here； I shall know that the town of Issoudun tells the truth；
when it declares you are under the dominion of Mademoiselle Flore
Brazier。 That my uncle should love you； is all very well；〃 he resumed；
holding Flore with a fixed eye； 〃that you should not love my uncle is
also on the cards； but when it comes to your making him unhappyhalt！
If people want to get hold of an inheritance； they must earn it。 Are
you coming； uncle？〃
Philippe saw the eyes of the poor imbecile roving from himself to
Flore； in painful hesitation。
〃Ha！ that's how it is； is it？〃 resumed the lieutenant…colonel。 〃Well；
adieu； uncle。 Mademoiselle； I kiss your hands。〃
He turned quickly when he reached the door； and caught Flore in the
act of making a menacing gesture at his uncle。
〃Uncle；〃 he said； 〃if you wish to go with me； I will meet you at your
door in ten minutes： I am now going to see Monsieur Hochon。 If you and
I do not take that walk； I shall take upon myself to make some others
walk。〃
So saying； he went away； and crossed the place Saint…Jean to the
Hochons。
Every one can imagine the scenes which the revelations made by
Philippe to Monsieur Hochon had brought about within that family。 At
nine o'clock； old Monsieur Heron； the notary； presented himself with a
bundle of papers； and found a fire in the hall which the old miser；
contrary to all his habits； had ordered to be lighted。 Madame Hochon；
already dressed at this unusual hour； was sitting in her armchair at
the corner of the fireplace。 The two grandsons； warned the night
before by Adolphine that a storm was gathering about their heads； had
been ordered to stay in the house。 Summoned now by Gritte； they were
alarmed at the formal preparations of their grandparents； whose
coldness and anger they had been made to feel in the air for the last
twenty…four hours。
〃Don't rise for them；〃 said their grandfather to Monsieur Heron； 〃you
see before you two miscreants； unworthy of pardon。〃
〃Oh； grandpapa！〃 said Francois。
〃Be silent！〃 said the old man sternly。 〃I know of your nocturnal life
and your intimacy with Monsieur Maxence Gilet。 But you will meet him
no more at Mere Cognette's at one in the morning； for you will not
leave this house； either of you； until you go to your respective
destinations。 Ha！ it was you who ruined Fario； was it？ you； who have
narrowly escaped the police…courts Hold your tongue！〃 he said；
seeing that Baruch was about to speak。 〃You both owe money to Monsieur
Maxence Gilet； who； for six years； has paid for your debauchery。
Listen； both of you； to my guardianship accounts； after that； I shall
have more to say。 You will see； after these papers are read； whether
you can still trifle with me；still trifle with family laws by
betraying the secrets of this house； and reporting to a Monsieur
Maxence Gilet what is said and what is done here。 For three thousand
francs； you became spies； for ten thousand； you would； no doubt；
become assassins。 You did almost kill Madame Bridau； for Monsieur
Gilet knew very well it was Fario who stabbed him when he threw the
crime upon my guest； Monsieur Joseph Bridau。 If that jail…bird did so
wicked an act； it was because you told him what Madame Bridau meant to
do。 You； my grandsons； the spies of such a man！ You； house…breakers
and marauders！ Don't you know that your worthy leader killed a poor
young woman； in 1806？ I will not have assassins and thieves in my
family。 Pack your things； you shall go hang elsewhere！〃
The two young men turned white and stiff as plaster casts。
〃Read on； Monsieur Heron；〃 said Hochon。
The old notary read the guardianship accounts； from which it appeared
that the net fortune of the two Borniche children amounted to seventy
thousand francs； a sum derived from the dowry of their mother： but
Monsieur Hochon had lent his daughter various large sums； and was now；
as creditor； the owner of a part of the property of his Borniche
grandchildren。 The portion coming to Baruch amounted to only twenty
thousand francs。
〃Now you are rich；〃 said the old man； 〃take your money； and go。 I
remain master of my own property and that of Madame Hochon； who in
this matter shares all my intentions； and I shall give it to whom I
choose； namely； our dear Adolphine。 Yes； we can marr