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Josephsatinhisarmchairalltheevening，engagedinslylystudyingthesixtyfaceswhich，fromfiveo’clockuntilhalfpastnine，posedforhimgratis，asheafterwardstoldhismother。SuchbehaviorbeforethearistocracyofIssoudundidnottendtochangetheopinionofthelittletownconcerninghim:everyonewenthomeruffledbyhissarcasticglances，uneasyunderhissmiles，andevenfrightenedathisface，whichseemedsinistertoaclassofpeopleunabletorecognizethesingularitiesofgenius。
Afterteno’clock，whenthehouseholdwasinbed，MadameHochonkepthergoddaughterinherchamberuntilmidnight。Securefrominterruption，thetwowomentoldeachotherthesorrowsoftheirlives，andexchangedtheirsufferings。AsAgathelistenedtothelastechoesofasoulthathadmisseditsdestiny，andfeltthesufferingsofaheart，essentiallygenerousandcharitable，whosecharityandgenerositycouldneverbeexercised，sherealizedtheimmensityofthedesertinwhichthepowersofthisnoble，unrecognizedsoulhadbeenwasted，andknewthatsheherself，withthelittlejoysandinterestsofhercityliferelievingthebittertrialssentfromGod，wasnotthemostunhappyofthetwo。
“Youwhoaresopious，“shesaid，“explaintomemyshortcomings；tellmewhatitisthatGodispunishinginme。“
“Heispreparingus，mychild，“answeredtheoldwoman，“forthestrikingofthelasthour。“
AtmidnighttheKnightsofIdlenesswerecollecting，onebyonelikeshadows，underthetreesoftheboulevardBaron，andspeakingtogetherinwhispers。
“Whatarewegoingtodo？“wasthefirstquestionofeachashearrived。
“Ithink，“saidFrancois，“thatMaxmeansmerelytogiveusasupper。“
“No；mattersareveryseriousforhim，andfortheRabouilleuse:nodoubt，hehasconcoctedsomeschemeagainsttheParisians。“
“Itwouldbeagoodjoketodrivethemaway。“
“Mygrandfather，“saidBaruch，“isterriblyalarmedathavingtwoextramouthstofeed，andhe’dseizeonanypretext——“
“Well，comrades！“criedMaxsoftly，nowappearingonthescene，“whyareyoustar-gazing？theplanetsdon’tdistilkirschwasser。Come，letusgotoMereCognette’s！“
“ToMereCognette’s！ToMereCognette’s！“theyallcried。
Thecry，utteredaswithonevoice，producedaclamorwhichrangthroughthetownlikethehurrahoftroopsrushingtoanassault；
totalsilencefollowed。Thenextday，morethanoneinhabitantmusthavesaidtohisneighbor:“Didyouhearthosefrightfulcrieslastnight，aboutoneo’clock？Ithoughttherewassurelyafiresomewhere。“
AsupperworthyofLaCognettebrightenedthefacesofthetwenty-twoguests；forthewholeOrderwaspresent。Attwointhemorning，astheywerebeginningto“siroter“(awordinthevocabularyoftheKnightswhichadmirablyexpressestheactofsippingandtastingthewineinsmallquantities)，Maxrosetospeak:——
“Mydearfellows！thehonorofyourgrandmasterwasgrosslyattackedthismorning，afterourmemorablejokewithFario’scart，——attackedbyavilepedler，andwhatismore，aSpaniard(oh，Ca
