the two brothers-第59节
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Orleans； and wait there till you hear from me。 Let no onenot a soul
know where you lodge； go to the first inn you come to in the
faubourg Bannier； no matter if it is only a post…house〃
〃Look here！〃 cried Francois； who had rushed to the window at the
sudden noise of wheels in the Grande…Narette。 〃Here's something new！
Pere Rouget and Colonel Bridau coming back together in the caleche；
Benjamin and Captain Carpentier following on horseback！〃
〃I'll go over；〃 cried Monsieur Hochon； whose curiosity carried the day
over every other feeling。
Monsieur Hochon found old Rouget in his bedroom； writing the following
letter at his nephew's dictation：
Mademoiselle；If you do not start to return here the moment you
receive this letter； your conduct will show such ingratitude for
all my goodness that I shall revoke the will I have made in your
favor； and give my property to my nephew Philippe。 You will
understand that Monsieur Gilet can no longer be my guest after
staying with you at Vatan。 I send this letter by Captain
Carpentier； who will put it into your own hands。 I hope you will
listen to his advice； he will speak to you with authority from me。
Your affectionate
J。…J。 Rouget。
〃Captain Carpentier and I MET my uncle； who was so foolish as to
follow Mademoiselle Brazier and Monsieur Gilet to Vatan；〃 said
Philippe； with sarcastic emphasis； to Monsieur Hochon。 〃I have made my
uncle see that he was running his head into a noose； for that girl
will abandon him the moment she gets him to sign a power of attorney；
by which they mean to obtain the income of his money in the Funds。
That letter will bring her back under his roof； the handsome runaway！
this very night； or I'm mistaken。 I promise to make her as pliable as
a bit of whalebone for the rest of her days； if my uncle allows me to
take Maxence Gilet's place； which； in my opinion； he ought never to
have had in the first place。 Am I not right？and yet here's my uncle
bemoaning himself！〃
〃Neighbor；〃 said Monsieur Hochon； 〃you have taken the best means to
get peace in your household。 Destroy your will； and Flore will be once
more what she used to be in the early days。〃
〃No； she will never forgive me for what I have made her suffer；〃
whimpered the old man； 〃she will no longer love me。〃
〃She shall love you； and closely too； I'll take care of that；〃 said
Philippe。
〃Come； open your eyes！〃 exclaimed Monsieur Hochon。 〃They mean to rob
you and abandon you。〃
〃Oh！ I was sure of it！〃 cried the poor imbecile。
〃See； here is a letter Maxence has written to my grandson Borniche；〃
said old Hochon。 〃Read it。〃
〃What infamy！〃 exclaimed Carpentier； as he listened to the letter；
which Rouget read aloud； weeping。
〃Is that plain enough； uncle？〃 demanded Philippe。 〃Hold that hussy by
her interests and she'll adore you as you deserve。〃
〃She loves Maxence too well； she will leave me；〃 cried the frightened
old man。
〃But； uncle； Maxence or I；one or the other of uswon't leave our
footsteps in the dust of Issoudun three days hence。〃
〃Well then go； Monsieur Carpentier；〃 said Rouget； 〃if you promise me
to bring her back； go！ You are a good man； say to her in my name all
you think you ought to say。〃
〃Captain Carpentier will whisper in her ear that I have sent to Paris
for a woman whose youth and beauty are captivating； that will bring
the jade back in a hurry！〃
The captain departed； driving himself in the old caleche； Benjamin
accompanied him on horseback； for Kouski was nowhere to be found。
Though threatened by the officers with arrest and the loss of his
situation； the Pole had gone to Vatan on a hired horse； to warn Max
and Flore of the adversary's move。 After fulfilling his mission；
Carpentier； who did not wish to drive back with Flore； was to change
places with Benjamin； and take the latter's horse。
When Philippe was told of Kouski's flight he said to Benjamin； 〃You
will take the Pole's place； from this time on。 It is all mapping out；
papa Hochon！〃 cried the lieutenant…colonel。 〃That banquet will be
jovial！〃
〃You will come and live here； of course；〃 said the old miser。
〃I have told Fario to send me all my things；〃 answered Philippe。 〃I
shall sleep in the room adjoining Gilet's apartment；if my uncle
consents。〃
〃What will come of all this？〃 cried the terrified old man。
〃Mademoiselle Flore Brazier is coming； gentle as a paschal lamb；〃
replied Monsieur Hochon。
〃God grant it！〃 exclaimed Rouget； wiping his eyes。
〃It is now seven o'clock；〃 said Philippe； 〃the sovereign of your heart
will be here at half…past eleven： you'll never see Gilet again； and
you will be as happy ever after as a pope。If you want me to
succeed；〃 he whispered to Monsieur Hochon； 〃stay here till the hussy
comes； you can help me in keeping the old man up to his resolution；
and； together； we'll make that crab…girl see on which side her bread
is buttered。〃
Monsieur Hochon felt the reasonableness of the request and stayed： but
they had their hands full； for old Rouget gave way to childish
lamentations； which were only quieted by Philippe's repeating over and
over a dozen times：
〃Uncle； you will see that I am right when Flore returns to you as
tender as ever。 You shall be petted； you will save your property： be
guided by my advice； and you'll live in paradise for the rest of your
days。〃
When； about half…past eleven； wheels were heard in the Grande…Narette；
the question was； whether the carriage were returning full or empty。
Rouget's face wore an expression of agony； which changed to the
prostration of excessive joy when he saw the two women； as the
carriage turned to enter the courtyard。
〃Kouski；〃 said Philippe； giving a hand to Flore to help her down。 〃You
are no longer in Monsieur Rouget's service。 You will not sleep here
to…night； get your things together； and go。 Benjamin takes your
place。〃
〃Are you the master here？〃 said Flore sarcastically。
〃With your permission；〃 replied Philippe； squeezing her hand as if in
a vice。 〃Come！ we must have an understanding； you and I〃； and he led
the bewildered woman out into the place Saint…Jean。
〃My fine lady；〃 began the old campaigner； stretching out his right
hand； 〃three days hence； Maxence Gilet will be sent to the shades by
that arm； or his will have taken me off guard。 If I die； you will be
the mistress of my poor imbecile uncle； 'bene sit。' If I remain on my
pins； you'll have to walk straight； and keep him supplied with first…
class happiness。 If you don't； I know girls in Paris who are； with all
due respect； much prettier than you； for they are only seventeen years
old： they would make my uncle excessively happy； and they are in my
interests。 Begin your attentions this very evening； if the old man is
not as gay as a lark to…morrow morning； I have only a word to say to
you； it is this； pay attention to it；there is but one way to kill a
man without the interference of the law； and that is to fight a duel
with him； but I know three ways to get rid of a woman： mind that； my
beauty！〃
During this address； Flore shook like a person with the ague。
〃Kill Max？〃 she said； gazing at Philippe in the moonlight。
〃Come； here's my uncle。〃
Old Rouget； turning a deaf ear to Monsieur Hochon's remonstrances； now
came out into the street； and took Flore by the hand； as a miser might
have grasped his treasure； he drew her back to the house and into his
own room and shut the door。
〃This is Saint…Lambert's day； and he who deserts his place； loses it；〃
remarked Benjamin to the Pole。
〃My master will shut your mouth for you；〃 answered Kouski； departing
to join Max who established himself at the hotel de la Poste。
On the morrow； between nine and eleven o'clock； all the women talked
to each other from door to door throughout the town。 The story of the
wonderful change in the Rouget household spread everywhere。 The upshot
of the conversations was the same on all sides；
〃What will happen at the banquet between Max and Colonel Bridau？〃
Philippe said but few words to the Vedie；〃Six hundred francs'
annuity； or dismissal。〃 They were enough； however； to keep her
neutral； for a time； between the two great powers； Philippe and Flore。
Knowing Max's life to be in danger； Flore became more affectionate to
Rouget than in the first days of their alliance。 Alas！ in love； a
self…interested devotion is sometimes more agreeable than a truthful
one； and that is why many men pay so much for clever deceivers。 The
Rabouilleuse did not appear till the next morning； when she came down
to breakfast with Rouget on her arm。 Tears filled her eyes as she
beheld； sitting in Max's place； the terrible adversary； with his
sombre blue eyes； and the cold； sinister expression on his face。
〃What is the matter； mademoiselle？〃 he said； after wishing his uncle
good…
