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humble and submissive tone。
〃Certainly； he can come here and pack up his things。 I will stay with
my uncle during that time； for I shall not leave the old man again；〃
replied Philippe。
〃Vedie；〃 cried Flore； 〃run to the hotel； and tell Monsieur Gilet that
I beg him〃
〃to come and get his belongings；〃 said Philippe； interrupting
Flore's message。
〃Yes； yes； Vedie； that will be a good pretext to see me； I must speak
to him。〃
Terror controlled her hatred； and the shock which her whole being
experienced when she first encountered this strong and pitiless nature
was now so overwhelming that she bowed before Philippe just as Rouget
had been in the habit of bending before her。 She anxiously awaited
Vedie's return。 The woman brought a formal refusal from Max； who
requested Mademoiselle Brazier to send his things to the hotel de la
Poste。
〃Will you allow me to take them to him？〃 she said to Jean…Jacques
Rouget。
〃Yes； but will you come back？〃 said the old man。
〃If Mademoiselle is not back by midday； you will give me a power of
attorney to attend to your property；〃 said Philippe； looking at Flore。
〃Take Vedie with you； to save appearances； mademoiselle。 In future you
are to think of my uncle's honor。〃
Flore could get nothing out of Max。 Desperate at having allowed
himself； before the eyes of the whole town； to be routed out of his
shameless position； Gilet was too proud to run away from Philippe。 The
Rabouilleuse combated this objection； and proposed that they should
fly together to America； but Max； who did not want Flore without her
money； and yet did not wish the girl to see the bottom of his heart；
insisted on his intention of killing Philippe。
〃We have committed a monstrous folly；〃 he said。 〃We ought all three to
have gone to Paris and spent the winter there； but how could one
guess； from the mere sight of that fellow's big carcass； that things
would turn out as they have？ The turn of events is enough to make one
giddy！ I took the colonel for one of those fire…eaters who haven't two
ideas in their head； that was the blunder I made。 As I didn't have the
sense to double like a hare in the beginning； I'll not be such a
coward as to back down before him。 He has lowered me in the estimation
of this town； and I cannot get back what I have lost unless I kill
him。〃
〃Go to America with forty thousand francs。 I'll find a way to get rid
of that scoundrel； and join you。 It would be much wiser。〃
〃What would people say of me？〃 he exclaimed。 〃No； I have buried nine
already。 The fellow doesn't seem as if he knew much； he went from
school to the army； and there he was always fighting till 1815； then
he went to America； and I doubt if the brute ever set foot in a
fencing…alley； while I have no match with the sabre。 The sabre is his
arm； I shall seem very generous in offering it to him；for I mean； if
possible； to let him insult me；and I can easily run him through。
Unquestionably； it is my wisest course。 Don't be uneasy； we shall be
masters of the field in a couple of days。〃
That it was that a stupid point of honor had more influence over Max
than sound policy。 When Flore got home she shut herself up to cry at
ease。 During the whole of that day gossip ran wild in Issoudun； and
the duel between Philippe and Maxence was considered inevitable。
〃Ah！ Monsieur Hochon；〃 said Mignonnet； who； accompanied by Carpentier；
met the old man on the boulevard Baron； 〃we are very uneasy； for Gilet
is clever with all weapons。〃
〃Never mind；〃 said the old provincial diplomatist； 〃Philippe has
managed this thing well from the beginning。 I should never have
thought that big； easy…going fellow would have succeeded as he has。
The two have rolled together like a couple of thunder…clouds。〃
〃Oh！〃 said Carpentier； 〃Philippe is a remarkable man。 His conduct
before the Court of Peers was a masterpiece of diplomacy。〃
〃Well； Captain Renard；〃 said one of the townsfolk to Max's friend。
〃They say wolves don't devour each other； but it seems that Max is
going to set his teeth in Colonel Bridau。 That's pretty serious among
you gentlemen of the Old Guard。〃
〃You make fun of it； do you？ Because the poor fellow amused himself a
little at night； you are all against him；〃 said Potel。 〃But Gilet is a
man who couldn't stay in a hole like Issoudun without finding
something to do。〃
〃Well； gentlemen；〃 remarked another； 〃Max and the colonel must play
out their game。 Bridau had to avenge his brother。 Don't you remember
Max's treachery to the poor lad？〃
〃Bah！ nothing but an artist；〃 said Renard。
〃But the real question is about the old man's property；〃 said a third。
〃They say Monsieur Gilet was laying hands on fifty thousand francs a
year； when the colonel turned him out of his uncle's house。〃
〃Gilet rob a man！ Come； don't say that to any one but me； Monsieur
Canivet；〃 cried Potel。 〃If you do； I'll make you swallow your tongue；
and without any sauce。〃
Every household in town offered prayers for the honorable Colonel
Bridau。
CHAPTER XVI
Towards four o'clock the following day； the officers of the old army
who were at Issoudun or its environs； were sauntering about the place
du Marche； in front of an eating…house kept by a man named Lacroix；
and waiting the arrival of Colonel Philippe Bridau。 The banquet in
honor of the coronation was to take place with military punctuality at
five o'clock。 Various groups of persons were talking of Max's
discomfiture； and his dismissal from old Rouget's house； for not only
were the officers to dine at Lacroix's； but the common soldiers had
determined on a meeting at a neighboring wine…shop。 Among the
officers； Potel and Renard were the only ones who attempted to defend
Max。
〃Is it any of our business what takes place among the old man's
heirs？〃 said Renard。
〃Max is weak with women；〃 remarked the cynical Potel。
〃There'll be sabres unsheathed before long；〃 said an old sub…
lieutenant； who cultivated a kitchen…garden in the upper Baltan。 〃If
Monsieur Maxence Gilet committed the folly of going to live under old
Rouget's roof； he would he a coward if he allowed himself to be turned
off like a valet without asking why。〃
〃Of course；〃 said Mignonnet dryly。 〃A folly that doesn't succeed
becomes a crime。〃
At this moment Max joined the old soldiers of Napoleon； and was
received in significant silence。 Potel and Renard each took an arm of
their friend； and walked about with him； conversing。 Presently
Philippe was seen approaching in full dress； he trailed his cane after
him with an imperturbable air which contrasted with the forced
attention Max was paying to the remarks of his two supporters。
Bridau's hand was grasped by Mignonnet； Carpentier； and several
others。 This welcome； so different from that accorded to Max；
dispelled the last feeling of cowardice； or； if you prefer it； wisdom；
which Flore's entreaties； and above a