下载辰思小说免费APP
remarkedBenjamintothePole。
“Mymasterwillshutyourmouthforyou，“answeredKouski，departingtojoinMaxwhoestablishedhimselfatthehoteldelaPoste。
Onthemorrow，betweennineandeleveno’clock，allthewomentalkedtoeachotherfromdoortodoorthroughoutthetown。ThestoryofthewonderfulchangeintheRougethouseholdspreadeverywhere。Theupshotoftheconversationswasthesameonallsides，——
“WhatwillhappenatthebanquetbetweenMaxandColonelBridau？“
PhilippesaidbutfewwordstotheVedie，——“Sixhundredfrancs’
annuity，ordismissal。“Theywereenough，however，tokeepherneutral，foratime，betweenthetwogreatpowers，PhilippeandFlore。
KnowingMax’slifetobeindanger，FlorebecamemoreaffectionatetoRougetthaninthefirstdaysoftheiralliance。Alas！inlove，aself-interesteddevotionissometimesmoreagreeablethanatruthfulone；andthatiswhymanymenpaysomuchforcleverdeceivers。TheRabouilleusedidnotappeartillthenextmorning，whenshecamedowntobreakfastwithRougetonherarm。Tearsfilledhereyesasshebeheld，sittinginMax’splace，theterribleadversary，withhissombreblueeyes，andthecold，sinisterexpressiononhisface。
“Whatisthematter，mademoiselle？“hesaid，afterwishinghisunclegood-morning。
“Shecan’tenduretheideaofyourfightingMaxence，“saidoldRouget。
“IhavenottheslightestdesiretokillGilet，“answeredPhilippe。
“HeneedonlytakehimselfofffromIssoudunandgotoAmericaonaventure。Ishouldbethefirsttoadviseyoutogivehimanoutfit，andtowishhimasafevoyage。Hewouldsoonmakeafortunethere，andthatisfarmorehonorablethanturningIssouduntopsy-turvyatnight，andplayingthedevilinyourhousehold。“
“Well，that’sfairenough，“saidRouget，glancingatFlore。
“A-mer-i-ca！“sheejaculated，sobbing。
“ItisbettertokickhislegsaboutinafreecountrythanhavethemrotinapineboxinFrance。However，perhapsyouthinkheisagoodshot，andcankillme；it’sonthecards，“observedthecolonel。
“Willyouletmespeaktohim？“saidFlore，imploringPhilippeinahumbleandsubmissivetone。
“Certainly；hecancomehereandpackuphisthings。Iwillstaywithmyuncleduringthattime；forIshallnotleavetheoldmanagain，“
repliedPhilippe。
“Vedie，“criedFlore，“runtothehotel，andtellMonsieurGiletthatIbeghim——“
“——tocomeandgethisbelongings，“saidPhilippe，interruptingFlore’smessage。
“Yes，yes，Vedie；thatwillbeagoodpretexttoseeme；Imustspeaktohim。“
Terrorcontrolledherhatred；andtheshockwhichherwholebeingexperiencedwhenshefirstencounteredthisstrongandpitilessnaturewasnowsooverwhelmingthatshebowedbeforePhilippejustasRougethadbeeninthehabitofbendingbeforeher。SheanxiouslyawaitedVedie’sreturn。Thewomanbroughtafor
