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“Wewillkeepthetiresofthewheelsforyou，“shoutedawheelwright，whohadcometoinspectthedamagedonetothecart。
Oneoftheshaftswasstickinguprightintheground，asstraightasatree。Maxstoodby，paleandthoughtful，anddeeplyannoyedbyFario’sspeech。Forfivedaysafterthis，nothingwastalkedofinIssoudunbutthetaleoftheSpaniard’sbarrow；itwasevenfatedtotravelabroad，asGoddetremarked，——foritwenttheroundofBerry，wherethespeechesofFarioandMaxwererepeated，andattheendofaweektheaffair，greatlytotheSpaniard’ssatisfaction，wasstillthetalkofthethreedepartmentsandthesubjectofendlessgossip。InconsequenceofthevindictiveSpaniard’sterriblespeech，MaxandtheRabouilleusebecametheobjectofcertaincommentswhichweremerelywhisperedinIssoudun，thoughtheywerespokenaloudinBourges，Vatan，Vierzon，andChateauroux。MaxenceGiletknewenoughofthatregionofthecountrytoguesshowenvenomedsuchcommentswouldbecome。
“Wecan’tstoptheirtongues，“hesaidatlast。“Ah！Ididafoolishthing！“
“Max！“saidFrancois，takinghisarm。“Theyarecomingto-night。“
“They！Who！“
“TheBridaus。Mygrandmotherhasjusthadaletterfromhergoddaughter。“
“Listen，myboy，“saidMaxinalowvoice。“Ihavebeenthinkingdeeplyofthismatter。NeitherFlorenorIoughttoseemopposedtotheBridaus。Iftheseheirsaretobegotridof，itisforyouHochonstodrivethemoutofIssoudun。Findoutwhatsortofpeopletheyare。To-morrowatMereCognette’s，afterI’vetakentheirmeasure，wecandecidewhatistobedone，andhowwecansetyourgrandfatheragainstthem。“
“TheSpaniardfoundtheflawinMax’sarmor，“saidBaruchtohiscousinFrancois，astheyturnedintoMonsieurHochon’shouseandwatchedtheircomradeenteringhisowndoor。
WhileMaxwasthusemployed，Flore，inspiteofherfriend’sadvice，wasunabletorestrainherwrath；andwithoutknowingwhethershewouldhelporhinderMax’splans，sheburstforthuponthepoorbachelor。WhenJean-Jacquesincurredtheangerofhismistress，thelittleattentionsandvulgarfondlingswhichwereallhisjoyweresuddenlysuppressed。Floresenthermaster，asthechildrensay，intodisgrace。Nomoretenderglances，nomoreofthecaressinglittlewordsinvarioustoneswithwhichshedeckedherconversation，——“mykitten，““myolddarling，““mybibi，““myrat，“etc。A“you，“coldandsharpandironicallyrespectful，cutlikethebladeofaknifethroughtheheartofthemiserableoldbachelor。The“you“wasadeclarationofwar。Insteadofhelpingthepoormanwithhistoilet，handinghimwhathewanted，forestallinghiswishes，lookingathimwiththesortofadmirationwhichallwomenknowhowtoexpress，andwhich，insomecases，thecoarseritisthebetteritpleases，——saying，forinstance，“Youlookasfreshasarose！“or，“Whathealthyouhave！““Howhandsomeyouare，myoldJean！“——inshort，insteadofentertaininghimwiththelivelychatterandbroadjokesinwhichhedelighted，Florelefthimtodressalone。Ifhecalledher，sheansweredfromthefootofthestaircase，“Ican’tdoeverythingatonce；howcanIlookafteryourbreakfastandwaituponyouupthere？Arenotyoubigenoughtodressyourownself？“
“Oh，dear！whathaveIdonet
