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brutality that was still polite； made her shudder。 As to the power of
attorney demanded by the ferocious colonel； who in the eyes of all
Issoudun was a hero； he had it as soon as he wanted it； for Flore fell
under the man's dominion as France had fallen under that of Napoleon。
Like a butterfly whose feet are caught in the incandescent wax of a
taper； Rouget rapidly dissipated his remaining strength。 In presence
of that decay； the nephew remained as cold and impassible as the
diplomatists of 1814 during the convulsions of imperial France。
Philippe； who did not believe in Napoleon II。； now wrote the following
letter to the minister of war； which Mariette made the Duc de
Maufrigneuse convey to that functionary：
Monseigneur；Napoleon is no more。 I desired to remain faithful to
him according to my oath； now I am free to offer my services to
His Majesty。 If your Excellency deigns to explain my conduct to
His Majesty； the King will see that it is in keeping with the laws
of honor； if not with those of his government。 The King； who
thought it proper that his aide…de…camp； General Rapp； should
mourn his former master； will no doubt feel indulgently for me。
Napoleon was my benefactor。
I therefore entreat your Excellency to take into consideration the
request I make for employment in my proper rank； and I beg to
assure you of my entire submission。 The King will find in me a
faithful subject。
Deign to accept the assurance of respect with which I have the
honor to be；
Your Excellency's very submissive and
Very humble servant；
Philippe Bridau
Formerly chief of squadron in the dragoons of the Guard； officer
of the Legion of honor； now under police surveillance at Issoudun。
To this letter was joined a request for permission to go to Paris on
urgent family business； and Monsieur Mouilleron annexed letters from
the mayor； the sub…prefect； and the commissary of police at Issoudun；
all bestowing many praises on Philippe's conduct； and dwelling upon
the newspaper article relating to his uncle's marriage。
Two weeks later； Philippe received the desired permission； and a
letter； in which the minister of war informed him that； by order of
the King； he was； as a preliminary favor； reinstated lieutenant…
colonel in the royal army。
CHAPTER XVII
Lieutenant…Colonel Bridau returned to Paris； taking with him his aunt
and the helpless Rouget； whom he escorted； three days after their
arrival； to the Treasury； where Jean…Jacques signed the transfer of
the income； which henceforth became Philippe's。 The exhausted old man
and the Rabouilleuse were now plunged by their nephew into the
excessive dissipations of the dangerous and restless society of
actresses； journalists； artists； and the equivocal women among whom
Philippe had already wasted his youth； where old Rouget found
excitements that soon after killed him。 Instigated by Giroudeau；
Lolotte； one of the handsomest of the Opera ballet…girls； was the
amiable assassin of the old man。 Rouget died after a splendid supper
at Florentine's； and Lolotte threw the blame of his death upon a slice
of pate de foie gras； as the Strasburg masterpiece could make no
defence； it was considered settled that the old man died of
indigestion。
Madame Rouget was in her element in the midst of this excessively
decollete society； but Philippe gave her in charge of Mariette； and
that monitress did not allow the widowwhose mourning was diversified
with a few amusementsto commit any actual follies。
In October； 1823； Philippe returned to Issoudun； furnished with a
power of attorney from his aunt； to liquidate the estate of his uncle；
a business that was soon over； for he returned to Paris in March；
1824； with sixteen hundred thousand francs；the net proceeds of old
Rouget's property； not counting the precious pictures； which had never
left Monsieur Hochon's hands。 Philippe put the whole property into the
hands of Mongenod and Sons； where young Baruch Borniche was employed；
and on whose solvency and business probity old Hochon had given him
satisfactory assurances。 This house took his sixteen hundred thousand
francs at six per cent per annum； on condition of three months' notice
in case of the withdrawal of the money。
One fine day； Philippe went to see his mother； and invited her to be
present at his marriage； which was witnessed by Giroudeau； Finot；
Nathan； and Bixiou。 By the terms of the marriage contract； the widow
Rouget； whose portion of her late husband's property amounted to a
million of francs； secured to her future husband her whole fortune in
case she died without children。 No invitations to the wedding were
sent out； nor any 〃billets de faire part〃； Philippe had his designs。
He lodged his wife in an appartement in the rue Saint…Georges； which
he bought ready…furnished from Lolotte。 Madame Bridau the younger
thought it delightful； and her husband rarely set foot in it。 Without
her knowledge； Philippe purchased in the rue de Clichy； at a time when
no one suspected the value which property in that quarter would one
day acquire； a magnificent hotel for two hundred and fifty thousand
francs； of which he paid one hundred and fifty thousand down； taking
two years to pay the remainder。 He spent large sums in altering the
interior and furnishing it； in fact； he put his income for two years
into this outlay。 The pictures； now restored； and estimated at three
hundred thousand francs； appeared in such surroundings in all their
beauty。
The accession of Charles X。 had brought into still greater court favor
the family of the Duc de Chaulieu； whose eldest son； the Duc de
Rhetore； was in the habit of seeing Philippe at Tullia's。 Under
Charles X。； the elder branch of the Bourbons； believing itself
permanently seated on the throne； followed the advice previously given
by Marshal Gouvion…Saint…Cyr to encourage the adherence of the
soldiers of the Empire。 Philippe； who had no doubt made invaluable
revelations as to the conspiracies of 1820 and 1822； was appointed
lieutenant…colonel in the regiment of the Duc de Maufrigneuse。 That
fascinating nobleman thought himself bound to protect the man from
whom he had taken Mariette。 The corps…de…ballet went for something；
therefore； in the appointment。 Moreover； it was decided in the private
councils of Charles X。； to give a faint tinge of liberalism to the
surroundings of Monseigneur the Dauphin。 Philippe； now a sort of
equerry to the Duc de Maufrigneuse； was presented not only to the
Dauphin； but also to the Dauphine； who was not averse to brusque and
soldierly characters who had become noted for a past fidelity。
Philippe thoroughly understood the part the Dauphin had to play； and
he turned the first exhibition of that spurious liberalism to his own
profit； by getting himself appointed aide…de…camp to a marshal who
stood well at court。
In January； 1827； Philippe； who was