at least, of making a fortune--"

And he drew a succinct picture of the situation of the family affairs
at Issoudun, begging the all-powerful vice-president of the Council of
State to take steps to induce the director-general of police to change
Philippe's place of residence from Autun to Issoudun. He also spoke of
Philippe's extreme poverty, and asked a dole of sixty francs a month,
which the minister of war ought, he said, for mere shame's sake, to
grant to a former lieutenant-colonel.

"I will obtain all you ask of me, for I think it just," replied the
count.

Three days later, Desroches, furnished with the necessary authority,
fetched Philippe from the prison of the Court of Peers, and took him to
his own house, rue de Bethizy. Once there, the young barrister read the
miserable vagabond one of those unanswerable lectures in which lawyers
rate things at their actual value; using plain terms to qualify the
conduct, and to analyze and reduce to their simplest meaning the
sentiments and ideas of clients toward whom they feel enough interest to
speak plainly. After humbling the Emperor's staff-officer by reproaching
him with his reckless dissipations, his mother's misfortunes, and the
death of Madame Descoings, he went on to tell him the state of things
at Issoudun, explaining it according to his lights, and probing both the
scheme and the character of Maxence Gilet and the Rabouilleuse to their
depths. Philippe, who was gifted with a keen comprehension in such
directions, listened with much more interest to this part of Desroches's
lecture than to what had gone before.

"Under these circumstances," continued the lawyer, "you can repair the
injury you have done to your estimable family,--so far at least as it is
reparable; for you cannot restore life to the poor mother you have all
but killed. But you alone can--"

"What can I do?" asked Philippe.

"I have obtained a change of residence for you from Autun to
Issoudun.--"

Philippe's sunken face, which had grown almost sinister in expression
and was furrowed with sufferings and privation, instantly lighted up
with a flash of joy.

"And, as I was saying, you alone can recover the inheritance of old
Rouget's property; half of which may by this time be in the jaws of the
wolf named Gilet," replied Desroches. "You now know all the particulars,
and it is for you to act accordingly. I suggest no plan; I have no
ideas at all as to that; besides, everything will depend