your son, Issoudun now breathes
and sleeps in peace. Philippe has come to his senses rather late; he
told us frankly that those three months in the Luxembourg sobered him.
Monsieur Hochon is delighted with his conduct here; every one thinks
highly of it. If he can be kept away from the temptations of Paris, he
will end by being a comfort to you."

Hearing these consolatory words Agathe's eyes filled with tears.

Philippe played the saint to his mother, for he had need of her. That
wily politician did not wish to have recourse to Cesarine unless he
continued to be an object of horror to Mademoiselle Brazier. He saw that
Flore had been thoroughly broken to harness by Max; he knew she was an
essential part of his uncle's life, and he greatly preferred to use her
rather than send for the ballet-girl, who might take it into her head
to marry the old man. Fouche advised Louis XVIII. to sleep in Napoleon's
sheets instead of granting the charter; and Philippe would have liked
to remain in Gilet's sheets; but he was reluctant to risk the good
reputation he had made for himself in Berry. To take Max's place with
the Rabouilleuse would be as odious on his part as on hers. He could,
without discredit and by the laws of nepotism, live in his uncle's
house and at his uncle's expense; but he could not have Flore unless her
character were whitewashed. Hampered by this difficulty, and stimulated
by the hope of finally getting hold of the property, the idea came into
his head of making his uncle marry the Rabouilleuse. With this in
view he requested his mother to go and see the girl and treat her in a
sisterly manner.

"I must confess, my dear mother," he said, in a canting tone, looking at
Monsieur and Madame Hochon who accompanied her, "that my uncle's way
of life is not becoming; he could, however, make Mademoiselle Brazier
respected by the community if he chose. Wouldn't it be far better for
her to be Madame Rouget than the servant-mistress of an old bachelor?
She had better obtain a definite right to his property by a marriage
contract then threaten a whole family with disinheritance. If you, or
Monsieur Hochon, or some good priest would speak of the matter to
both parties, you might put a stop to the scandal which offends decent
people. Mademoiselle Brazier would be only too happy if you were to
welcome her as a sister, and I as an aunt."

On the morrow Agathe and Madame Hochon appeared at Flore's bedside,
and repeated to the