下载辰思小说免费APP
Thedayafterhisarrival，Philippecalleduponhisuncleaboutteno’clockinthemorning，anxioustopresenthimselfinhisdilapidatedclothing。WhentheconvalescentoftheHopitalduMidi，theprisoneroftheLuxembourg，enteredtheroom，FloreBrazierfeltashiverpassoverherattherepulsivesight。Gilethimselfwasconsciousofthatparticulardisturbancebothofmindandbody，bywhichNaturesometimeswarnsusofalatentenmity，oracomingdanger。IftherewassomethingindescribablysinisterinPhilippe’scountenance，duetohisrecentmisfortunes，theeffectwasheightenedbyhisclothes。Hisforlornbluegreat-coatwasbuttonedinmilitaryfashiontothethroat，forpainfulreasons；andyetitshowedmuchthatitpretendedtoconceal。Thebottomedgesofthetrousers，raggedlikethoseofanalmshousebeggar，werethesignofabjectpoverty。Thebootsleftwetsplashesonthefloor，asthemudoozedfromfissuresinthesoles。
Thegrayhat，whichthecolonelheldinhishand，washorriblygreasyroundtherim。Themalaccacane，fromwhichthepolishhadlongdisappeared，musthavestoodinallthecornersofallthecafesinParis，andpokeditsworn-outendintomanyacorruption。Abovethevelvetcollar，rubbedandworntilltheframeshowedthroughit，roseaheadlikethatwhichFrederickLemaitremakesupforthelastactin“TheLifeofaGambler，“——wheretheexhaustionofamanstillintheprimeoflifeisbetrayedbythemetallic，brassyskin，discoloredasifwithverdigris。Suchtintsareseenonthefacesofdebauchedgamblerswhospendtheirnightsinplay:theeyesaresunkeninaduskycircle，thelidsarereddenedratherthanred，thebrowismenacingfromthewreckandruinitreveals。Philippe’scheeks，whichweresunkenandwrinkled，showedsignsoftheillnessfromwhichhehadscarcelyrecovered。Hisheadwasbald，exceptforafringeofhairatthebackwhichendedattheears。Thepureblueofhisbrillianteyeshadacquiredthecoldtonesofpolishedsteel。
“Good-morning，uncle，“hesaid，inahoarsevoice。“Iamyournephew，PhilippeBridau，——aspecimenofhowtheBourbonstreatalieutenant-
colonel，anoldsoldieroftheoldarmy，onewhocarriedtheEmperor’sordersatthebattleofMontereau。Ifmycoatweretoopen，IshouldbeputtoshameinpresenceofMademoiselle。Well，itistheruleofthegame！Wehopedtobeginitagain；wetriedit，andwehavefailed！
Iamtoresideinyourcitybytheorderofthepolice，withafullpayofsixtyfrancsamonth。Sotheinhabitantsneedn’tfearthatI
shallraisethepriceofprovisions！Iseeyouareingoodandlovelycompany。“
“Ah！youaremynephew，“saidJean-Jacques。
“Invitemonsieurlecoloneltobreakfastwithus，“saidFlore。
“No，Ithankyou，madame，“answeredPhilippe，“Ihavebreakfasted。
Besides，Iwouldcutoffmyhandsoonerthanaskabitofbreadorafarthingfrommyuncle，afterthetreatmentmymotherandbrotherreceivedinthistown。Itdidnotseemproper，however，thatIshouldsettlehere，inIssoudun，withoutpayingmyrespectstohimfromtimetotime。Youcandowhatyoulike，“headded，offeringtheoldmanhishand，intowhichRougetputhisown，whichPhilippeshook，“——whateveryoulike。Ishallhavenothingtosayagainstit；providedthehonoroftheBridausisuntouched。“
Giletcouldlookatthelieutenant-colonelasmuchashepleased，forPhilippep
