to do and never quitted his post of observation, made any form
of vengeance impossible. Benjamin was his innocent and devoted spy.
The Vedie trembled before him. Flore felt herself deserted and utterly
helpless. She began to fear death. Without knowing how Philippe might
manage to kill her, she felt certain that whenever he suspected her of
pregnancy her doom would be sealed. The sound of that voice, the veiled
glitter of that gambler's eye, the slightest movement of the soldier,
who treated her with a brutality that was still polite, made her
shudder. As to the power of attorney demanded by the ferocious colonel,
who in the eyes of all Issoudun was a hero, he had it as soon as he
wanted it; for Flore fell under the man's dominion as France had fallen
under that of Napoleon.

Like a butterfly whose feet are caught in the incandescent wax of a
taper, Rouget rapidly dissipated his remaining strength. In presence
of that decay, the nephew remained as cold and impassible as the
diplomatists of 1814 during the convulsions of imperial France.

Philippe, who did not believe in Napoleon II., now wrote the following
letter to the minister of war, which Mariette made the Duc de
Maufrigneuse convey to that functionary:--

Monseigneur,--Napoleon is no more. I desired to remain faithful to
him according to my oath; now I am free to offer my services to
His Majesty. If your Excellency deigns to explain my conduct to
His Majesty, the King will see that it is in keeping with the laws
of honor, if not with those of his government. The King, who
thought it proper that his aide-de-camp, General Rapp, should
mourn his former master, will no doubt feel indulgently for me.
Napoleon was my benefactor.

I therefore entreat your Excellency to take into consideration the
request I make for employment in my proper rank; and I beg to
assure you of my entire submission. The King will find in me a
faithful subject.

Deign to accept the assurance of respect with which I have the
honor to be,
Your Excellency's very submissive and

Very humble servant,

Philippe Bridau

Formerly chief of squadron in the dragoons of the Guard; officer
of the Legion of honor; now under police surveillance at Issoudun.

To this letter was joined a request for permission to go to Paris on
urgent family business; and Monsieur Mouilleron annexed letters from the
mayor, the sub-prefect, and the commissary of police at Issou