ven if it
were a mere pretence, caused him horrible anguish. He was therefore as
polite to Captain Gilet as he knew how to be. The invitation was given,
as Flore had requested, before witnesses, to guard the hero's honor from
all suspicion.

A reconciliation took place between Flore and her master; but from that
day forth Jean-Jacques noticed many a trifle that betokened a total
change in his mistress's affections. For two or three weeks Flore
Brazier complained to the tradespeople in the markets, and to the women
with whom she gossiped, about Monsieur Rouget's tyranny,--how he had
taken it into his head to invite his self-styled natural brother to live
with him. No one, however, was taken in by this comedy; and Flore was
looked upon as a wonderfully clever and artful creature. Old Rouget
really found himself very comfortable after Max became the master of
his house; for he thus gained a companion who paid him many attentions,
without, however, showing any servility. Gilet talked, discussed
politics, and sometimes went to walk with Rouget. After Max was fairly
installed, Flore did not choose to do the cooking; she said it spoiled
her hands. At the request of the grand master of the Order of the
Knights of Idleness, Mere Cognette produced one of her relatives, an
old maid whose master, a curate, had lately died without leaving her
anything,--an excellent cook, withal,--who declared she would devote
herself for life or death to Max and Flore. In the name of the two
powers, Mere Cognette promised her an annuity of three hundred francs a
year at the end of ten years, if she served them loyally, honestly,
and discreetly. The Vedie, as she was called, was noticeable for a face
deeply pitted by the small-pox, and correspondingly ugly.

After the new cook had entered upon her duties, the Rabouilleuse took
the title of Madame Brazier. She wore corsets; she had silk, or
handsome woollen and cotton dresses, according to the season, expensive
neckerchiefs, embroidered caps and collars, lace ruffles at her throat,
boots instead of shoes, and, altogether, adopted a richness and elegance
of apparel which renewed the youthfulness of her appearance. She was
like a rough diamond, that needed cutting and mounting by a jeweller to
bring out its full value. Her desire was to do honor to Max. At the end
of the first year, in 1817, she brought a horse, styled English, from
Bourges, for the poor cavalry captain, who was weary of going afoot.