下载辰思小说免费APP
ThedayafterPhilippe’sconversationwithMonsieurHochon，hedeterminedtopayasecondvisittohisuncle，whomhefoundmuchchanged。Florestayedbesidetheoldman，speakingtenderlyandlookingathimwithmuchaffection；sheplayedthecomedysowellthatPhilippeguessedsomeimmediatedanger，merelyfromthesolicitudethusdisplayedinhispresence。Gilet，whosepolicyitwastoavoidallcollisionwithPhilippe，didnotappear。AfterwatchinghisuncleandFloreforatimewithadiscerningeye，thecoloneljudgedthatthetimehadcometostrikehisgrandblow。
“Adieu，mydearuncle，“hesaid，risingasiftoleavethehouse。
“Oh！don’tgoyet，“criedtheoldman，whowascomfortedbyFlore’sfalsetenderness。“Dinewithus，Philippe。“
“Yes，ifyouwillcomeandtakeawalkwithme。“
“Monsieurisveryfeeble，“interposedMademoiselleBrazier；“justnowhewasunwillingeventogooutinthecarriage，“sheadded，turningupontheoldmanthefixedlookwithwhichkeepersquellamaniac。
PhilippetookFlorebythearm，compellinghertolookathim，andlookingatherinreturnasfixedlyasshehadjustlookedathervictim。
“Tellme，mademoiselle，“hesaid，“isitafactthatmyuncleisnotfreetotakeawalkwithme？“
“Why，yesheis，monsieur，“repliedFlore，whowasunabletomakeanyotheranswer。
“Verywell。Come，uncle。Mademoiselle，givehimhishatandcane。“
“But——henevergoesoutwithoutme。Doyou，monsieur？“
“Yes，Philippe，yes；Ialwayswanther——“
“Itwouldbebettertotakethecarriage，“saidFlore。
“Yes，letustakethecarriage，“criedtheoldman，inhisanxietytomakehistwotyrantsagree。
“Uncle，youwillcomewithme，alone，andonfoot，orIshallneverreturnhere；IshallknowthatthetownofIssouduntellsthetruth，whenitdeclaresyouareunderthedominionofMademoiselleFloreBrazier。Thatmyuncleshouldloveyou，isallverywell，“heresumed，holdingFlorewithafixedeye；“thatyoushouldnotlovemyuncleisalsoonthecards；butwhenitcomestoyourmakinghimunhappy——halt！
Ifpeoplewanttogetholdofaninheritance，theymustearnit。Areyoucoming，uncle？“
PhilippesawtheeyesofthepoorimbecilerovingfromhimselftoFlore，inpainfulhesitation。
“Ha！that’showitis，isit？“resumedthelieutenant-colonel。“Well，adieu，uncle。Mademoiselle，Ikissyourhands。“
Heturnedquicklywhenhereachedthedoor，andcaughtFloreintheactofmakingamenacinggestureathisuncle。
“Uncle，“hesaid，“ifyouwishtogowithme，Iwillmeetyouatyourdoorintenminutes:IamnowgoingtoseeMonsieurHochon。IfyouandIdonottakethatwalk，Ishalltakeuponmyselftomakesomeotherswalk。“
Sosaying，hewentaway，andcrossedtheplaceSaint-JeantotheHochons。
EveryonecanimaginethesceneswhichtherevelationsmadebyPhilippetoMonsieurHochonhadbroughtaboutwithinthatfamily。Atnineo’clock，oldMonsieurHeron，thenotary，presentedhimselfwithabundleofpapers，andfoundafireinthehallwhichtheoldmiser，contrarytoallhishabits，hadorderedtobelighted。MadameHochon，alreadydressedatthisunusualhour，wassittinginherarmchairatthecornerofthefireplace。Thetwogra
