下载辰思小说免费APP
Monsieur，here，cantellyou，“shewenton，lookingfixedlyathervictim，“thattheonlyquarrelswehaveeverhadwereaboutyou。I
havealwaystoldhimthatheowesyoupartofthefortunehereceivedfromhisfather，andyourfather，mybenefactor，——forhewasmybenefactor，“sheaddedinatearfulvoice；“Ishalleverrememberhim！
Butyourbrother，madame，haslistenedtoreason——“
“Yes，“saidtheoldman，“whenImakemywillyoushallnotbeforgotten。“
“Don’ttalkofthesethings，mydearbrother；youdonotyetknowmynature。“
Aftersuchabeginning，itiseasytoimaginehowthevisitwenton。
Rougetinvitedhissistertodinneronthenextdaybutone。
WemayherementionthatduringthesethreedaystheKnightsofIdlenesscapturedanimmensequantityofratsandmice，whichwerekepthalf-famisheduntiltheywereletlooseinthegrainonefinenight，tothenumberoffourhundredandthirty-six，ofwhichsomewerebreedingmothers。NotcontentwithprovidingFario’sstore-housewiththeseboarders，theKnightsmadeholesintheroofoftheoldchurchandputinadozenpigeons，takenfromasmanydifferentfarms。
Thesefour-footedandfeatheredcreaturesheldhighrevels，——allthemoresecurelybecausethewatchmanwasenticedawaybyafellowwhokepthimdrunkfrommorningtillnight，sothathetooknocareofhismaster’sproperty。
MadameBridaubelieved，contrarytotheopinionofoldHochon，thatherbrotherhasasyetmadenowill；sheintendedaskinghimwhatwerehisintentionsrespectingMademoiselleBrazier，assoonasshecouldtakeawalkwithhimalone，——ahopewhichFloreandMaxencewerealwaysholdingouttoher，and，ofcourse，alwaysdisappointing。
MeantimetheKnightsweresearchingforawaytoputtheParisianstoflight，andfindingnonethatwerenotimpracticablefollies。
Attheendofaweek——halfthetimetheParisiansweretostayinIssoudun——theBridauswerenofartheradvancedintheirobjectthanwhentheycame。
“Yourlawyerdoesnotunderstandtheprovinces，“saidoldHochontoMadameBridau。“Whatyouhavecometodocan’tbedoneintwoweeks，norintwoyears；yououghtnevertoleaveyourbrother，butlivehereandtrytogivehimsomeideasofreligion。YoucannotcounterminethefortificationsofFloreandMaxencewithoutgettingapriesttosapthem。Thatismyadvice，anditishightimetosetaboutit。“
“Youcertainlyhaveverysingularideasabouttheclergy，“saidMadameHochontoherhusband。
“Bah！“exclaimedtheoldman，“that’sjustlikeyoupiouswomen。“
“Godwouldneverblessanenterpriseundertakeninasacrilegiousspirit，“saidMadameBridau。“Usereligionforsuchapurpose！Why，weshouldbemorecriminalthanFlore。“
Thisconversationtookplaceatbreakfast，——FrancoisandBaruchlisteningwithalltheirears。
“Sacrilege！“exclaimedoldHochon。“Ifsomegoodabbe，keenasIhaveknownmanyofthemtobe，knewwhatadilemmayouarein，hewouldnotthinkitsacrilegetobringyourbrother’slostsoulbacktoGod，andcallhimtorepentanceforhissins，byforcinghimtosendawaythewomanwhocausesthescandal(withaproperprovision，ofcourse)，andshowinghimhowtosethisconscienceatrestbygivingafewthousandfrancsayeartotheseminaryofthearchbishopandleavinghispropertytotherightfulheirs。“
Thepassiveobediencewhichtheoldmiserhadalwaysexactedfromhischildren，andnowfromhisgrandchildren(whowereunderhisguardianshipandforwhomhewasamassingasmallfortune，doingforthem，hesaid，justashewouldforhimsel
