fencing-master in the infantry before entering the cavalry. Philippe
soon recovered his early dexterity, and learned other and new secrets
from Carpentier, which convinced him that he need not fear the prowess
of any adversary. This done, he began openly to practise with pistols,
with Mignonnet and Carpentier, declaring it was for amusement, but
really intending to make Max believe that, in case of a duel, he should
rely on that weapon. Whenever Philippe met Gilet he waited for him to
bow first, and answered the salutation by touching the brim of his hat
cavalierly, as an officer acknowledges the salute of a private. Maxence
Gilet gave no sign of impatience or displeasure; he never uttered a
single word about Bridau at the Cognettes' where he still gave suppers;
although, since Fario's attack, the pranks of the Order of Idleness were
temporarily suspended.

After a while, however, the contempt shown by Lieutenant-colonel Bridau
for the former cavalry captain, Gilet, was a settled fact, which certain
Knights of Idleness, who were less bound to Max than Francois, Baruch,
and three or four others, discussed among themselves. They were much
surprised to see the violent and fiery Max behave with such discretion.
No one in Issoudun, not even Potel or Renard, dared broach so delicate
a subject with him. Potel, somewhat disturbed by this open
misunderstanding between two heroes of the Imperial Guard, suggested
that Max might be laying a net for the colonel; he asserted that some
new scheme might be looked for from the man who had got rid of the
mother and one brother by making use of Fario's attack upon him, the
particulars of which were now no longer a mystery. Monsieur Hochon had
taken care to reveal the truth of Max's atrocious accusation to the best
people of the town. Thus it happened that in talking over the situation
of the lieutenant-colonel in relation to Max, and in trying to guess
what might spring from their antagonism, the whole town regarded the two
men, from the start, as adversaries.

Philippe, who had carefully investigated all the circumstances of his
brother's arrest and the antecedents of Gilet and the Rabouilleuse, was
finally brought into rather close relations with Fario, who lived near
him. After studying the Spaniard, Philippe thought he might trust a man
of that quality. The two found their hatred so firm a bond of union,
that Fario put himself at Philippe's disposal, and related all that
he knew abou