下载辰思小说免费APP
In1816，thesemodernBadBoyshadnotaltogethergivenupsuchtricksasthese，perpetratedintheprovincesbyallyoungladsandgamins。
Butin1817theOrderofIdlenessacquiredaGrandMaster，anddistinguisheditselfbymischiefwhich，upto1823，spreadsomethingliketerrorinIssoudun，oratleastkepttheartisansandthebourgeoisieperpetuallyuneasy。
ThisleaderwasacertainMaxenceGilet，commonlycalledMax，whoseantecedents，nolessthanhisyouthandhisvigor，predestinedhimforsuchapart。MaxenceGiletwassupposedbyallIssouduntobethenaturalsonofthesub-delegateLousteau，thatbrotherofMadameHochonwhosegallantrieshadleftmemoriesbehindthem，andwho，aswehaveseen，drewdownuponhimselfthehatredofoldDoctorRougetaboutthetimeofAgathe’sbirth。Butthefriendshipwhichboundthetwomentogetherbeforetheirquarrelwassoclosethat，touseanexpressionofthatregionandthatperiod，“theywillinglywalkedthesameroad。“SomepeoplesaidthatMaxencewasaslikelytobethesonofthedoctorasofthesub-delegate；butinfacthebelongedtoneithertheonenortheother，——hisfatherbeingacharmingdragoonofficeringarrisonatBourges。Nevertheless，asaresultoftheirenmity，andveryfortunatelyforthechild，RougetandLousteauneverceasedtoclaimhispaternity。
Max’smother，thewifeofapoorsabot-makerintheRomesuburb，waspossessed，fortheperditionofhersoul，ofasurprisingbeauty，aTrasteverinebeauty，theonlypropertywhichshetransmittedtoherson。MadameGilet，pregnantwithMaxencein1788，hadlongdesiredthatblessing，whichthetownattributedtothegallantriesofthetwofriends，——probablyinthehopeofsettingthemagainsteachother。
Gilet，anolddrunkardwithatriplethroat，treatedhiswife’smisconductwithacollusionthatisnotuncommonamongthelowerclasses。Tomakesureofprotectorsforherson，MadameGiletwascarefulnottoenlightenhisreputedfathersastohisparentage。InParis，shewouldhaveturnedoutamillionaire；atIssoudunshelivedsometimesatherease，moreoftenmiserably，and，inthelongrun，despised。MadameHochon，Lousteau’ssister，paidsixtyfrancsayearforthelad’sschooling。Thisliberality，whichMadameHochonwasquiteunabletopractiseonherownaccountbecauseofherhusband’sstinginess，wasnaturallyattributedtoherbrother，thenlivingatSancerre。
WhenDoctorRouget，whocertainlywasnotluckyinsons，observedMax’sbeauty，hepaidtheboardofthe“youngrogue，“ashecalledhim，attheseminary，uptotheyear1805。AsLousteaudiedin1800，andthedoctorapparentlyobeyedafeelingofvanityinpayingthelad’sboarduntil1805，thequestionofthepaternitywasleftforeverundecided。MaxenceGilet，thebuttofmanyjests，wassoonforgotten，——andforthisreason:In1806，ayearafterDoctorRouget’sdeath，thelad，whoseemedtohavebeencreatedforaventuresomelife，andwasmoreovergiftedwithremarkablevigorandagility，gotintoaseriesofscrapeswhichmoreorlessthreatenedhissafety。HeplottedwiththegrandsonsofMonsieurHochontoworrythegrocersofthecity；hegatheredfruitbeforetheownerscouldpickit，andmadenothingofscalingwalls。Hehadnoequalatbodilyexercises，heplayedbasetoperfection，andcouldhaveoutrunahare。WithakeeneyeworthyofLeather-stocking，helovedhuntingpassionately。Histimewaspassedinfiringatamark，insteadofstudying；andhespentthemoneyextractedfromtheolddoctorinbuyingpowderandballforawretchedpistolthatoldGilet，thesabot-maker，hadgivenhim。
Duringtheautumnof1806，Maxence，thenseventeen，committedaninvoluntarymurder，byfrighteningintheduskayoungwomanwhowaspregnant，andwhocameuponhimsuddenlywhilestealingfruitinhergarden。ThreatenedwiththeguillotinebyGilet，whodoubtlesswantedtogetridofhim，MaxfledtoB
