下载辰思小说免费APP
AtthetimewhenMadameBridaureturnedtoIssouduntosave——asMaitreDesrochesexpressedit——aninheritancethatwasseriouslythreatened，Jean-JacquesRougethadreachedbydegreesaconditionthatwassemi-
vegetative。Inthefirstplace，afterMax’sinstalment，Floreputthetableonanepiscopalfooting。Rouget，throwninthewayofgoodliving，atemoreandstillmore，enticedbytheVedie’sexcellentdishes。Hegrewnofatter，however，inspiteofthisabundantandluxuriousnourishment。Fromdaytodayheweakenedlikeaworn-outman，——fatigued，perhaps，withtheeffortofdigestion，——andhiseyeshaddarkcirclesaroundthem。Still，whenhisfriendsandneighborsmethiminhiswalksandquestionedhimabouthishealth，healwaysansweredthathewasneverbetterinhislife。Ashehadalwaysbeenthoughtextremelydeficientinmind，peopledidnotnoticetheconstantloweringofhisfaculties。HisloveforFlorewastheonethingthatkepthimalive；infact，heexistedonlyforher，andhisweaknessinherpresencewasunbounded；heobeyedthecreature’smerelook，andwatchedhermovementsasadogwatcheseverygestureofhismaster。Inshort，asMadameHochonremarked，atfifty-sevenyearsofageheseemedolderthanMonsieurHochon，anoctogenarian。
Everyonewillsuppose，andwithreason，thatMax’sappartementwasworthyofsocharmingafellow。Infact，inthecourseofsixyearsourcaptainhadbydegreesperfectedthecomfortofhisabodeandadornedeverydetailofit，asmuchforhisownpleasureasforFlore’s。Butitwas，afterall，onlythecomfortandluxuryofIssoudun，——coloredtiles，ratherelegantwallpapers，mahoganyfurniture，mirrorsingiltframes，muslincurtainswithredborders，abedwithacanopy，anddraperiesarrangedastheprovincialupholsterersarrangethemforarichbride；whichintheeyesofIssoudunseemedtheheightofluxury，butaresocommoninvulgarfashion-platesthateventhepettyshopkeepersinParishavediscardedthemattheirweddings。Oneveryunusualthingappeared，whichcausedmuchtalkinIssoudun，namely，arush-mattingonthestairs，nodoubttomufflethesoundoffeet。Infact，thoughMaxwasinthehabitofcominginatdaybreak，heneverwokeanyone，andRougetwasfarfromsuspectingthathisguestwasanaccompliceinthenocturnalperformancesoftheKnightsofIdleness。
Abouteighto’clockthenextmorning，Flore，wearingadressing-gownofsomeprettycottonstuffwithnarrowpinkstripes，alacecaponherhead，andherfeetinfurredslippers，softlyopenedthedoorofMax’schamber；seeingthatheslept，sheremainedstandingbesidethebed。
“Hecameinsolate！“shesaidtoherself。“Itwashalf-pastthree。Hemusthaveagoodconstitutiontostandsuchamusements。Isn’thestrong，thedearlove！Iwonderwhattheydidlastnight。“
“Oh，thereyouare，mylittleFlore！“saidMax，wakinglikeasoldiertrainedbythenecessitiesofwartohavehiswitsandhisself-
possessionabouthimtheinstantthathewaked，howeversuddenlyitmighthappen。
“Youaresleepy；I’llgoaway。“
“No，stay；there’ssomethingseriousgoingon。“
“Wereyouuptosomemischieflastnight？“
“Ah，bah！Itconcernsyouandmeandthatoldf
