下载辰思小说免费APP
neithertoostoutnoryettoothin。Hishands，carefullykept，werewhiteandratherhandsome；buthisfeetrecalledthesuburbandthefoot-soldieroftheEmpire。Maxwouldcertainlyhavemadeagoodgeneralofdivision；hehadshouldersthatwereworthafortunetoamarshalofFrance，andabreastbroadenoughtowearalltheordersofEurope。Everymovementbetrayedintelligence；bornwithgraceandcharm，likenearlyallthechildrenoflove，thenoblebloodofhisrealfathercameoutinhim。
“Don’tyouknow，Max，“criedthesonofaformersurgeon-majornamedGoddet——nowthebestdoctorinthetown——fromtheotherendofthetable，“thatMadameHochon’sgoddaughteristhesisterofRouget？Ifsheiscomingherewithherson，nodoubtshemeanstomakesureofgettingthepropertywhenhedies，andthen——good-bytoyourharvest！“
Maxfrowned。Then，withalookwhichranfromonefacetoanotherallroundthetable，hewatchedtheeffectofthisannouncementonthemindsofthosepresent，andagainreplied，——
“What’sthattome？“
“But，“saidFrancois，“IshouldthinkthatifoldRougetrevokedhiswill，——incasehehasmadeoneinfavoroftheRabouilleuse——“
HereMaxcutshorthishenchman’sspeech。“I’vestoppedthemouthsofpeoplewhohavedaredtomeddlewithyou，mydearFrancois，“hesaid；
“andthisisthewayyoupayyourdebts？YouuseacontemptuousnicknameinspeakingofawomantowhomIamknowntobeattached。“
MaxhadneverbeforesaidasmuchasthisabouthisrelationswiththepersontowhomFrancoishadjustappliedanameunderwhichshewasknownatIssoudun。ThelateprisoneratCabrera——themajorofthegrenadiersoftheGuard——knewenoughofwhathonorwastojudgerightlyastothecausesofthedisesteeminwhichsocietyheldhim。
Hehadthereforeneverallowedanyone，nomatterwho，tospeaktohimonthesubjectofMademoiselleFloreBrazier，theservant-mistressofJean-JacquesRouget，soenergeticallytermeda“slut“bytherespectableMadameHochon。EverybodyknewitwastooticklishasubjectwithMax，evertospeakofitunlesshebeganit；andhithertohehadneverbegunit。Toriskhisangerorirritatehimwasaltogethertoodangerous；sothatevenhisbestfriendshadneverjokedhimabouttheRabouilleuse。WhentheytalkedofhisliaisonwiththegirlbeforeMajorPotelandCaptainRenard，withwhomhelivedonintimateterms，Potelwouldreply，——
“IfheisthenaturalbrotherofJean-JacquesRougetwhereelsewouldyouhavehimlive？“
“Besides，afterall，“addedCaptainRenard，“thegirlisaworthlesspiece，andifMaxdoeslivewithherwhere’stheharm？“
Afterthismeritedsnub，Francoiscouldnotatoncecatchupthethreadofhisideas；buthewasstilllessabletodosowhenMaxsaidtohim，gently，——
“Goon。“
“Faith，no！“criedFrancois。
“Youneedn’tgetangry，Max，“saidyoungGoddet；“didn’tweagreetotalkfreelytoeachotheratMereCognette’s？Shouldn’tweallbemortalenemiesifwerememberedoutsidewhatissaid，orthought，ordonehere？AllthetowncallsFloreBrazierth
