下载辰思小说免费APP
Helefttheroomwithoutwaitingforananswer。WhenVediecamein，fifteenminuteslater，toclearthetable，shefoundhermistresspaleandmoistwithperspiration，inspiteoftheseason。Florefeltlikeawomanwhohadfallentothebottomofaprecipice；thefutureloomedblackbeforeher；andonitsblackness，inthefardistance，wereshapesofmonstrousthings，indistinctlyperceptible，andterrifying。
Shefeltthedampchillofvaults，instinctivefearofthemancrushedher；andyetavoicecriedinherearthatshedeservedtohavehimforhermaster。Shewashelplessagainstherfate。FloreBrazierhadhadaroomofherowninRouget’shouse；butMadameRougetbelongedtoherhusband，andwasnowdeprivedofthefree-willofaservant-
mistress。Inthehorriblesituationinwhichshenowfoundherself，thehopeofhavingachildcameintohermind；butshesoonrecognizeditsimpossibility。ThemarriagewastoJean-JacqueswhatthesecondmarriageofLouisXII。wastothatking。TheincessantwatchfulnessofamanlikePhilippe，whohadnothingtodoandneverquittedhispostofobservation，madeanyformofvengeanceimpossible。Benjaminwashisinnocentanddevotedspy。TheVedietrembledbeforehim。Florefeltherselfdesertedandutterlyhelpless。Shebegantofeardeath。
WithoutknowinghowPhilippemightmanagetokillher，shefeltcertainthatwheneverhesuspectedherofpregnancyherdoomwouldbesealed。Thesoundofthatvoice，theveiledglitterofthatgambler’seye，theslightestmovementofthesoldier，whotreatedherwithabrutalitythatwasstillpolite，madehershudder。Astothepowerofattorneydemandedbytheferociouscolonel，whointheeyesofallIssoudunwasahero，hehaditassoonashewantedit；forFlorefellundertheman’sdominionasFrancehadfallenunderthatofNapoleon。
Likeabutterflywhosefeetarecaughtintheincandescentwaxofataper，Rougetrapidlydissipatedhisremainingstrength。Inpresenceofthatdecay，thenephewremainedascoldandimpassibleasthediplomatistsof1814duringtheconvulsionsofimperialFrance。
Philippe，whodidnotbelieveinNapoleonII。，nowwrotethefollowinglettertotheministerofwar，whichMariettemadetheDucdeMaufrigneuseconveytothatfunctionary:——
Monseigneur，——Napoleonisnomore。Idesiredtoremainfaithfultohimaccordingtomyoath；nowIamfreetooffermyservicestoHisMajesty。IfyourExcellencydeignstoexplainmyconducttoHisMajesty，theKingwillseethatitisinkeepingwiththelawsofhonor，ifnotwiththoseofhisgovernment。TheKing，whothoughtitproperthathisaide-de-camp，GeneralRapp，shouldmournhisformermaster，willnodoubtfeelindulgentlyforme。
Napoleonwasmybenefactor。
IthereforeentreatyourExcellencytotakeintoconsiderationtherequestImakeforemploymentinmyproperrank；andIbegtoassureyouofmyentiresubmission。TheKingwillfindinmeafaithfulsubject。
DeigntoaccepttheassuranceofrespectwithwhichIhavethehonortobe，YourExcellency’sverysubmissiveandVeryhumbleservant，PhilippeBridauFormerlychiefofsquadroninthedragoonsoftheGuard；officeroftheLegionofhonor；nowunderpolicesurveillanceatIssoudun。
TothisletterwasjoinedarequestforpermissiontogotoParisonurgentfamilybusiness；andMonsieurMouilleronannexedlettersfromthemayor，thesub-prefect，andthecommissaryofpoliceatIssoudun，allbestowingmanypraisesonPhilippe’sconduct，anddwellinguponthenewspaperarticlerelatingtohisuncle’smarriage。
Twoweekslater，Philippereceivedthedesiredpermis
