rther,
and endeavored to lull Gilet's suspicions by deceiving him as to his
real character. He was bent on being taken for a fool by appearing
generous and disinterested; all the while drawing a net around his
adversary, and keeping his eye on his uncle's property. His mother and
brother, on the contrary, who were really disinterested, generous,
and lofty, had been accused of greed because they had acted with
straightforward simplicity. Philippe's covetousness was fully roused by
Monsieur Hochon, who gave him all the details of his uncle's property.
In the first secret conversation which he held with the octogenarian,
they agreed that Philippe must not awaken Max's suspicions; for the game
would be lost if Flore and Max were to carry off their victim, though no
further than Bourges.

Once a week the colonel dined with Mignonnet; another day with
Carpentier; and every Thursday with Monsieur Hochon. At the end of three
weeks he received other invitations for the remaining days, so that he
had little more than his breakfast to provide. He never spoke of
his uncle, nor of the Rabouilleuse, nor of Gilet, unless it were in
connection with his mother and his brother's stay in Issoudun. The three
officers--the only soldiers in the town who were decorated, and among
whom Philippe had the advantage of the rosette, which in the eyes of
all provincials gave him a marked superiority--took a habit of walking
together every day before dinner, keeping, as the saying is, to
themselves. This reserve and tranquillity of demeanor had an
excellent effect on Issoudun. All Max's adherents thought Philippe a
"sabreur,"--an expression applied by soldiers to the commonest sort of
courage in their superior officers, while denying that they possess the
requisite qualities of a commander.

"He is a very honorable man," said Goddet the surgeon, to Max.

"Bah!" replied Gilet, "his behavior before the Court of Peers proves him
to have been either a dupe or a spy; he is, as you say, ninny enough to
have been duped by the great players."

After obtaining his situation, Philippe, who was well informed as to
the gossip of the town, wished to conceal certain circumstances of his
present life as much as possible from the knowledge of the inhabitants;
he therefore went to live in a house at the farther end of the faubourg
Saint-Paterne, to which was attached a large garden. Here he was able
in the utmost secrecy to fence with Carpentier, who had been a