n he took
his leave. When the miser and the soldier reached the boulevard Baron,
a place where no one could overhear them, the colonel turned to the old
man,--

"Monsieur," he said, "if you will be guided by me, we will never speak
together of matters and things, or people either, unless we are walking
in the open country, or in places where we cannot be heard. Maitre
Desroches has fully explained to me the influence of the gossip of a
little town. Therefore I don't wish you to be suspected of advising me;
though Desroches has told me to ask for your advice, and I beg you not
to be chary of giving it. We have a powerful enemy in our front, and it
won't do to neglect any precaution which may help to defeat him. In the
first place, therefore, excuse me if I do not call upon you again.
A little coldness between us will clear you of all suspicion of
influencing my conduct. When I want to consult you, I will pass
along the square at half-past nine, just as you are coming out after
breakfast. If you see me carry my cane on my shoulder, that will mean
that we must meet--accidentally--in some open space which you will point
out to me."

"I see you are a prudent man, bent on success," said old Hochon.

"I shall succeed, monsieur. First of all, give me the names of the
officers of the old army now living in Issoudun, who have not taken
sides with Maxence Gilet; I wish to make their acquaintance."

"Well, there's a captain of the artillery of the Guard, Monsieur
Mignonnet, a man about forty years of age, who was brought up at the
Ecole Polytechnique, and lives in a quiet way. He is a very honorable
man, and openly disapproves of Max, whose conduct he considers unworthy
of a true soldier."

"Good!" remarked the lieutenant-colonel.

"There are not many soldiers here of that stripe," resumed Monsieur
Hochon; "the only other that I know is an old cavalry captain."

"That is my arm," said Philippe. "Was he in the Guard?"

"Yes," replied Monsieur Hochon. "Carpentier was, in 1810, sergeant-major
in the dragoons; then he rose to be sub-lieutenant in the line, and
subsequently captain of cavalry."

"Giroudeau may know him," thought Philippe.

"This Monsieur Carpentier took the place in the mayor's office which
Gilet threw up; he is a friend of Monsieur Mignonnet."

"How can I earn my living here?"

"They are going, I think, to establish a mutual insurance agency in
Issoudun, for the department of the Cher; you might get a pl