第27章

Why，takeGisors.Iknowitatthetipsofmyfingers，fromitsbeginninguptothepresenttime.Youhavenoideawhatqueerhistoryithas."

"DoyoubelongtoGisors？"

"I？No.IcomefromGournay，itsneighborandrival.GournayistoGisorswhatLuculluswastoCicero.Here，everythingisforglory;theysay’theproudpeopleofGisors.’AtGournay，everythingisforthestomach;theysay’thechewersofGournay.’GisorsdespisesGournay，butGournaylaughsatGisors.Itisaverycomicalcountry，this."

IperceivedthatIwaseatingsomethingverydelicious，hard—boiledeggswrappedinacoveringofmeatjellyflavoredwithherbsandputoniceforafewmoments.IsaidasIsmackedmylipstocomplimentMarambot：

"Thatisgood."

Hesmiled.

"Twothingsarenecessary，goodjelly，whichishardtoget，andgoodeggs.Oh，howraregoodeggsare，withtheyolksslightlyreddish，andwithagoodflavor！Ihavetwopoultryyards，oneforeggsandtheotherforchickens.Ifeedmylayinghensinaspecialmanner.Ihavemyownideasonthesubject.Inanegg，asinthemeatofachicken，inbeef，orinmutton，inmilk，ineverything，oneperceives，andoughttotaste，thejuice，thequintessenceofallthefoodonwhichtheanimalhasfed.

Howmuchbetterfoodwecouldhaveifmoreattentionwerepaidtothis！"

IlaughedasIsaid：

"Youareagourmand？"

"Parbleu.Itisonlyimbecileswhoarenot.Oneisagourmandasoneisanartist，asoneislearned，asoneisapoet.Thesenseoftaste，myfriend，isverydelicate，capableofperfection，andquiteasworthyofrespectastheeyeandtheear.Apersonwholacksthissenseisdeprivedofanexquisitefaculty，thefacultyofdiscerningthequalityoffood，justasonemaylackthefacultyofdiscerningthebeautiesofabookorofaworkofart;itmeanstobedeprivedofanessentialorgan，ofsomethingthatbelongstohigherhumanity;itmeanstobelongtooneofthoseinnumerableclassesoftheinfirm，theunfortunate，andthefoolsofwhichourraceiscomposed;itmeanstohavethemouthofananimal，inaword，justlikethemindofananimal.Amanwhocannotdistinguishonekindoflobsterfromanother;aherring——thatadmirablefishthathasalltheflavors，alltheodorsofthesea——fromamackerelorawhiting;andaCresanefromaDuchesspear，maybecomparedtoamanwhoshouldmistakeBalzacforEugeneSue;asymphonyofBeethovenforamilitarymarchcomposedbythebandmasterofaregiment;andtheApolloBelvidereforthestatueofGeneraldeBlaumont.

"WhoisGeneraldeBlaumont？"

"Oh，that’strue，youdonotknow.ItiseasytotellthatyoudonotbelongtoGisors.Itoldyoujustnow，mydearboy，thattheycalledtheinhabitantsofthistown’theproudpeopleofGisors，’andneverwasanepithetbetterdeserved.Butletusfinishbreakfastfirst，andthenI

willtellyouaboutourtownandtakeyoutoseeit."

Hestoppedtalkingeverynowandthenwhileheslowlydrankaglassofwinewhichhegazedataffectionatelyashereplacedtheglassonthetable.

Itwasamusingtoseehim，withanapkintiedaroundhisneck，hischeeksflushed，hiseyeseager，andhiswhiskersspreadingroundhismouthasitkeptworking.

HemademeeatuntilIwasalmostchoking.Then，asIwasabouttoreturntotherailwaystation，heseizedmebythearmandtookmethroughthestreets.Thetown，ofapretty，provincialtype，commandedbyitscitadel，themostcuriousmonumentofmilitaryarchitectureoftheseventhcenturytobefoundinFrance，overlooks，initsturn，along，greenvalley，wherethelargeNormancowsgrazeandruminateinthepastures.

Thedoctorquoted：

"’Gisors，atownof4，000inhabitantsinthedepartmentofEure，mentionedinCaesar’sCommentaries：Caesarisostium，thenCaesartium，Caesortium，Gisortium，Gisors.’IshallnottakeyoutovisittheoldRomanencampment，theremainsofwhicharestillinexistence."

Ilaughedandreplied：

"Mydearfriend，itseemstomethatyouareaffectedwithaspecialmaladythat，asadoctor，yououghttostudy;itiscalledthespiritofprovincialism."

Hestoppedabruptly.

"Thespiritofprovincialism，myfriend，isnothingbutnaturalpatriotism，"hesaid."Ilovemyhouse，mytownandmyprovincebecauseIdiscoverinthemthecustomsofmyownvillage;butifIlovemycountry，ifIbecomeangrywhenaneighborsetsfootinit，itisbecauseIfeelthatmyhomeisindanger，becausethefrontierthatIdonotknowisthehighroadtomyprovince.Forinstance，IamaNorman，atrueNorman;well，inspiteofmyhatredoftheGermanandmydesireforrevenge，Idonotdetestthem，IdonothatethembyinstinctasIhatetheEnglish，thereal，hereditarynaturalenemyoftheNormans;fortheEnglishtraversedthissoilinhabitedbymyancestors，plunderedandravagedittwentytimes，andmyaversiontothisperfidiouspeoplewastransmittedtomeatbirthbymyfather.See，hereisthestatueofthegeneral."

"Whatgeneral？"

"GeneralBlaumont！Wehadtohaveastatue.Wearenot’theproudpeopleofGisors’fornothing！SowediscoveredGeneraldeBlaumont.

Lookinthisbookseller’swindow."

Hedrewmetowardsthebookstore，whereaboutfifteenred，yellowandbluevolumesattractedtheeye.AsIreadthetitles，Ibegantolaughidiotically.Theyread：

Gisors，itsorigin，itsfuture，byM.X，memberofseverallearnedsocieties;HistoryofGisors，bytheAbbeA;GasorsfromthetimeofCaesartothepresentday，byM.B，Landowner;

Gisorsanditsenvirons，byDoctorC.D;TheGloriesofGisors，byaDiscoverer.

"Myfriend，"resumedMarambot，"notayear，notasingleyear，youunderstand，passeswithoutafreshhistoryofGisorsbeingpublishedhere;wenowhavetwenty—three."

"AndthegloriesofGisors？"Iasked.

"Oh，Iwillnotmentionthemall，onlytheprincipalones.WehadfirstGeneraldeBlaumont，thenBaronDavillier，thecelebratedceramistwhoexploredSpainandtheBalearicIsles，andbroughttothenoticeofcollectorsthewonderfulHispano—Arabicchina.Inliteraturewehaveaverycleverjournalist，nowdead，CharlesBrainne，andamongthosewhoareliving，theveryeminenteditoroftheNouvellistedeRouen，CharlesLapierreandmanyothers，manyothers."

Weweretraversingalongstreetwithagentleincline，withaJunesunbeatingdownonitanddrivingtheresidentsintotheirhouses.

Suddenlythereappearedatthefartherendofthestreetadrunkenmanwhowasstaggeringalong，withhisheadforwardhisarmsandlegslimp.

Hewouldwalkforwardrapidlythree，six，ortenstepsandthenstop.

Whentheseenergeticmovementslandedhiminthemiddleoftheroadhestoppedshortandswayedonhisfeet，hesitatingbetweenfallingandafreshstart.Thenhewoulddartoffinanydirection，sometimesfallingagainstthewallofahouse，againstwhichheseemedtobefastened，asthoughheweretryingtogetinthroughthewall.Thenhewouldsuddenlyturnroundandlookaheadofhim，hismouthopenandhiseyesblinkinginthesunlight，andgettingawayfromthewallbyamovementofthehips，hestartedoffoncemore.

Alittleyellowdog，ahalf—starvedcur，followedhim，barking;stoppingwhenhestopped，andstartingoffwhenhestarted.

"Hallo，"saidMarambot，"thereisMadameHusson’s’Rosier’.

"MadameHusson’s’Rosier’，"Iexclaimedinastonishment."Whatdoyoumean？"

Thedoctorbegantolaugh.

"Oh，thatiswhatwecalldrunkardsroundhere.Thenamecomesfromanoldstorywhichhasnowbecomealegend，althoughitistrueinallrespects."

"Isitanamusingstory？"

"Veryamusing."

"Well，then，tellittome."

"Iwill."

TherelivedformerlyinthistownaveryuprightoldladywhowasagreatguardianofmoralsandwascalledMme.Husson.Youknow，Iamtellingyoutherealnamesandnotimaginaryones.Mme.Hussontookaspecialinterestingoodworks，inhelpingthepoorandencouragingthedeserving.Shewasalittlewomanwithaquickwalkandworeablackwig.Shewasceremonious，polite，onverygoodtermswiththeAlmightyinthepersonofAbbyMalon，andhadaprofoundhorror，aninbornhorrorofvice，and，inparticular，ofthevicetheChurchcallslasciviousness.

Anyirregularitybeforemarriagemadeherfurious，exasperatedhertillshewasbesideherself.

Now，thiswastheperiodwhentheypresentedaprizeasarewardofvirtuetoanygirlintheenvironsofPariswhowasfoundtobechaste.

ShewascalledaRosiere，andMme.HussongottheideathatshewouldinstituteasimilarceremonyatGisors.ShespokeaboutittoAbbeMalon，whoatoncemadeoutalistofcandidates.

However，Mme.Hussonhadaservant，anoldwomancalledFrancoise，asuprightashermistress.Assoonasthepriesthadleft，madamecalledtheservantandsaid：

"Here，Francoise，herearethegirlswhosenamesM.lecurehassubmittedtomefortheprizeofvirtue;tryandfindoutwhatreputationtheybearinthedistrict."

AndFrancoisesetout.Shecollectedallthescandal，allthestories，allthetattle，allthesuspicions.Thatshemightomitnothing，shewroteitalldowntogetherwithhermemorandainherhousekeepingbook，andhandediteachmorningtoMme.Husson，who，afteradjustingherspectaclesonherthinnose，readasfollows：

BreadfoursousMilktwosousButtereightsousMalvinaLevesquegotintotroublelastyearwithMathurinPoilu.

Legofmuttontwenty—fivesousSaltonesouRosalieVatinelwasseenintheRiboudetwoodswithCesairePienoir，byMme.Onesime，theironer，onJulythe20thaboutdusk.

RadishesonesouVinegartwosousOxalicacidtwosousJosephineDurdent，whoisnotbelievedtohavecommittedafault，althoughshecorrespondswithyoungOportun，whoisinserviceinRouen，andwhosentherapresentofacapbydiligence.

Notonecameoutunscathedinthisrigorousinquisition.Francoiseinquiredofeveryone，neighbors，drapers，theprincipal，theteachingsistersatschool，andgatheredtheslightestdetails.

Asthereisnotagirlintheworldaboutwhomgossipshavenotfoundsomethingtosay，therewasnotfoundinallthecountrysideoneyounggirlwhosenamewasfreefromsomescandal.

ButMme.Hussondesiredthatthe"Rosiere"ofGisors，likeCaesar’swife，shouldbeabovesuspicion，andshewashorrified，saddenedandindespairattherecordinherservant’shousekeepingaccount—book.

Theythenextendedtheircircleofinquiriestotheneighboringvillages;

butwithnosatisfaction.

Theyconsultedthemayor.Hiscandidatesfailed.ThoseofDr.Barbesolwereequallyunlucky，inspiteoftheexactnessofhisscientificvouchers.

ButonemorningFrancoise，onreturningfromoneofherexpeditions，saidtohermistress：

"Yousee，madame，thatifyouwishtogiveaprizetoanyone，thereisonlyIsidoreinallthecountryround."

Mme.Hussonremainedthoughtful.Sheknewhimwell，thisIsidore，thesonofVirginiethegreengrocer.HisproverbialvirtuehadbeenthedelightofGisorsforseveralyears，andservedasanentertainingthemeofconversationinthetown，andofamusementtotheyounggirlswholovedtoteasehim.Hewaspasttwenty—one，wastall，awkward，slowandtimid;helpedhismotherinthebusiness，andspenthisdayspickingoverfruitandvegetables，seatedonachairoutsidethedoor.

Hehadanabnormaldreadofapetticoatandcastdownhiseyeswheneverafemalecustomerlookedathimsmilingly，andthiswell—knowntimiditymadehimthebuttofallthewagsinthecountry.

Boldwords，coarseexpressions，indecentallusions，broughtthecolortohischeekssoquicklythatDr.Barbesolhadnicknamedhim"thethermometerofmodesty."Washeasinnocentashelooked？ill—naturedpeopleaskedthemselves.WasitthemerepresentimentofunknownandshamefulmysteriesorelseindignationattherelationsordainedastheconcomitantoflovethatsostronglyaffectedthesonofVirginiethegreengrocer？Theurchinsoftheneighborhoodastheyranpasttheshopwouldflingdisgustingremarksathimjusttoseehimcastdownhiseyes.

Thegirlsamusedthemselvesbywalkingupanddownbeforehim，crackingjokesthatmadehimgointothestore.Theboldestamongthemteasedhimtohisfacejusttohavealaugh，toamusethemselves，madeappointmentswithhimandproposedallsortsofthings.

SoMadameHussonhadbecomethoughtful.

Certainly，Isidorewasanexceptionalcaseofnotorious，unassailablevirtue.Noone，amongthemostsceptical，mostincredulous，wouldhavebeenable，wouldhavedared，tosuspectIsidoreoftheslightestinfractionofanylawofmorality.Hehadneverbeenseeninacafe，neverbeenseenatnightonthestreet.Hewenttobedateighto’clockandroseatfour.Hewasaperfection，apearl.

ButMme.Hussonstillhesitated.Theideaofsubstitutingaboyforagirl，a"rosier"forarosiere，"troubledher，worriedheralittle，andsheresolvedtoconsultAbbeMalon.

Theabberesponded：

"Whatdoyoudesiretoreward，madame？Itisvirtue，isitnot，andnothingbutvirtue？Whatdoesitmattertoyou，therefore，ifitismasculineorfeminine？Virtueiseternal;ithasneithersexnorcountry;itis’Virtue.’"

Thusencouraged，Mme.Hussonwenttoseethemayor.

Heapprovedheartily.

"Wewillhaveafineceremony，"hesaid."AndanotheryearifwecanfindagirlasworthyasIsidorewewillgivetherewardtoher.ItwillevenbeagoodexamplethatweshallsettoNanterre.Letusnotbeexclusive;letuswelcomeallmerit."

Isidore，whohadbeentoldaboutthis，blusheddeeplyandseemedhappy.

Theceremonywasfixedforthe15thofAugust，thefestivaloftheVirginMaryandoftheEmperorNapoleon.Themunicipalityhaddecidedtomakeanimposingceremonyandhadbuilttheplatformonthecouronneaux，adelightfulextensionoftherampartsoftheoldcitadelwhereIwilltakeyoupresently.

Withthenaturalrevulsionofpublicfeeling，thevirtueofIsidore，ridiculedhitherto，hadsuddenlybecomerespectedandenvied，asitwouldbringhiminfivehundredfrancsbesidesasavingsbankbook，amountainofconsideration，andgloryenoughandtospare.Thegirlsnowregrettedtheirfrivolity，theirridicule，theirboldmanners;andIsidore，althoughstillmodestandtimid，hadnowalittlecontentedairthatbespokehisinternalsatisfaction.

Theeveningbeforethe15thofAugusttheentireRueDauphinewasdecoratedwithflags.Oh，IforgottotellyouwhythisstreethadbeencalledRueDauphine.

Itseemsthatthewifeormotherofthedauphin，Idonotrememberwhichone，whilevisitingGisorshadbeenfetedsomuchbytheauthoritiesthatduringatriumphalprocessionthroughthetownshestoppedbeforeoneofthehousesinthisstreet，haltingtheprocession，andexclaimed：

"Oh，theprettyhouse！HowIshouldliketogothroughit！Towhomdoesitbelong？"

Theytoldherthenameoftheowner，whowassentforandbrought，proudandembarrassed，beforetheprincess.Shealightedfromhercarriage，wentintothehouse，wishingtogooveritfromtoptobottom，andevenshutherselfinoneoftheroomsaloneforafewseconds.

Whenshecameout，thepeople，flatteredatthishonorpaidtoacitizenofGisors，shouted"Longlivethedauphine！"Butarhymesterwrotesomewordstoarefrain，andthestreetretainedthetitleofherroyalhighness，for"Theprincess，inahurry，Withoutbell，priest，orbeadle，Butwithsomewateronly，Hadbaptizedit."

ButtocomebacktoIsidore.

TheyhadscatteredflowersallalongtheroadastheydoforprocessionsattheFete—Dieu，andtheNationalGuardwaspresent，actingontheordersoftheirchief，CommandantDesbarres，anoldsoldieroftheGrandArmy，whopointedwithpridetothebeardofaCossackcutwithasingleswordstrokefromthechinofitsownerbythecommandantduringtheretreatinRussia，andwhichhungbesidetheframecontainingthecrossoftheLegionofHonorpresentedtohimbytheemperorhimself.

Theregimentthathecommandedwas，besides，apickedregimentcelebratedallthroughtheprovince，andthecompanyofgrenadiersofGisorswascalledontoattendallimportantceremoniesforadistanceoffifteentotwentyleagues.ThestorygoesthatLouisPhilippe，whilereviewingthemilitiaofEure，stoppedinastonishmentbeforethecompanyfromGisors，exclaiming：

"Oh，whoarethosesplendidgrenadiers？"

"ThegrenadiersofGisors，"repliedthegeneral.

"Imighthaveknownit，"murmuredtheking.

SoCommandantDesbarrescameattheheadofhismen，precededbytheband，togetIsidoreinhismother’sstore.

Afteralittleairhadbeenplayedbythebandbeneaththewindows，the"Rosier"himselfappeared——onthethreshold.Hewasdressedinwhiteduckfromheadtofootandworeastrawhatwithalittlebunchoforangeblossomsasacockade.

ThequestionofhisclotheshadbotheredMme.Hussonagooddeal，andshehesitatedsometimebetweentheblackcoatofthosewhomaketheirfirstcommunionandanentirewhitesuit.ButFrancoise，hercounsellor，inducedhertodecideonthewhitesuit，pointingoutthattheRosierwouldlooklikeaswan.

Behindhimcamehisguardian，hisgodmother，Mme.Husson，intriumph.

Shetookhisarmtogooutofthestore，andthemayorplacedhimselfontheothersideoftheRosier.Thedrumsbeat.CommandantDesbarresgavetheorder"Presentarms！"Theprocessionresumeditsmarchtowardsthechurchamidanimmensecrowdofpeoplewhohasgatheredfromtheneighboringdistricts.

AfterashortmassandanaffectingdiscoursebyAbbeMalon，theycontinuedontheirwaytothecouronneaux，wherethebanquetwasservedinatent.

Beforetakingtheirseatsattable，themayorgaveanaddress.Thisisit，wordforword.Ilearneditbyheart：

"Youngman，awomanofmeans，belovedbythepoorandrespectedbytherich，Mme.Husson，whomthewholecountryisthankinghere，throughme，hadtheidea，thehappyandbenevolentidea，offoundinginthistownaprizefor，virtue，whichshouldserveasavaluableencouragementtotheinhabitantsofthisbeautifulcountry.

"You，youngman，arethefirsttoberewardedinthisdynastyofgoodnessandchastity.Yournamewillremainattheheadofthislistofthemostdeserving，andyourlife，understandme，yourwholelife，mustcorrespondtothishappycommencement.To—day，inpresenceofthisnoblewoman，ofthesesoldier—citizenswhohavetakenuptheirarmsinyourhonor，inpresenceofthispopulace，affected，assembledtoapplaudyou，or，rather，toapplaudvirtue，inyourperson，youmakeasolemncontractwiththetown，withallofus，tocontinueuntilyourdeaththeexcellentexampleofyouryouth.

"Donotforget，youngman，thatyouarethefirstseedcastintothisfieldofhope;giveusthefruitsthatweexpectofyou."

Themayoradvancedthreesteps，openedhisarmsandpressedIsidoretohisheart.

The"Rosier"wassobbingwithoutknowingwhy，fromaconfusedemotion，fromprideandavagueandhappyfeelingoftenderness.

Thenthemayorplacedinonehandasilkpurseinwhichgoldtingled——

fivehundredfrancsingold！——andinhisotherhandasavingsbankbook.

Andhesaidinasolemntone：

"Homage，gloryandrichestovirtue."

CommandantDesbarresshouted"Bravo！"thegrenadiersvociferated，andthecrowdapplauded.

Mme.Hussonwipedhereyes，inherturn.Thentheyallsatdownatthetablewherethebanquetwasserved.

Therepastwasmagnificentandseemedinterminable.Onecoursefollowedanother;yellowciderandredwineinfraternalcontactblendedinthestomachoftheguests.Therattleofplates，thesoundofvoices，andofmusicsoftlyplayed，madeanincessantdeephum，andwasdispersedabroadintheclearskywheretheswallowswereflying.Mme.Hussonoccasionallyreadjustedherblackwig，whichwouldslipoverononeside，andchattedwithAbbeMalon.Themayor，whowasexcited，talkedpoliticswithCommandantDesbarres，andIsidoreate，drank，asifhehadnevereatenordrunkbefore.Hehelpedhimselfrepeatedlytoallthedishes，becomingawareforthefirsttimeofthepleasureofhavingone’sbellyfullofgoodthingswhichticklethepalateinthefirstplace.Hehadletoutareefinhisbeltand，withoutspeaking，andalthoughhewasalittleuneasyatawinestainonhiswhitewaistcoat，heceasedeatinginordertotakeuphisglassandholdittohismouthaslongaspossible，toenjoythetasteslowly.

Itwastimeforthetoasts.Theyweremanyandloudlyapplauded.

Eveningwasapproachingandtheyhadbeenatthetablesincenoon.Fine，milkyvaporswerealreadyfloatingintheairinthevalley，thelightnight—robeofstreamsandmeadows;thesunnearedthehorizon;thecowswerelowinginthedistanceamidthemistsofthepasture.Thefeastwasover.TheyreturnedtoGisors.Theprocession，nowdisbanded，walkedindetachments.Mme.HussonhadtakenIsidore’sarmandwasgivinghimaquantityofurgent，excellentadvice.

Theystoppedatthedoorofthefruitstore，andthe"Rosier"wasleftathismother’shouse.Shehadnotcomehomeyet.Havingbeeninvitedbyherfamilytocelebrateherson’striumph，shehadtakenluncheonwithhersisterafterhavingfollowedtheprocessionasfarasthebanquetingtent.

SoIsidoreremainedaloneinthestore，whichwasgrowingdark.Hesatdownonachair，excitedbythewineandbypride，andlookedabouthim.

Carrots，cabbages，andonionsgaveouttheirstrongodorofvegetablesintheclosedroom，thatcoarsesmellofthegardenblendedwiththesweet，penetratingodorofstrawberriesandthedelicate，slight，evanescentfragranceofabasketofpeaches.

The"Rosier"tookoneoftheseandateit，althoughhewasasfullasanegg.Then，allatonce，wildwithjoy，hebegantodanceaboutthestore，andsomethingrattledinhiswaistcoat.

Hewassurprised，andputhishandinhispocketandbroughtoutthepursecontainingthefivehundredfrancs，whichhehadforgotteninhisagitation.Fivehundredfrancs！Whatafortune！Hepouredthegoldpiecesoutonthecounterandspreadthemoutwithhisbighandwithaslow，caressingtouchsoastoseethemallatthesametime.Thereweretwenty—five，twenty—fiveroundgoldpieces，allgold！Theyglistenedonthewoodinthedimlightandhecountedthemoverandover，onebyone.

Thenheputthembackinthepurse，whichhereplacedinhispocket.

Whowilleverknoworwhocantellwhataterribleconflicttookplaceinthesoulofthe"Rosier"betweengoodandevil，thetumultuousattackofSatan，hisartifices，thetemptationswhichheofferedtothistimidvirginheart？Whatsuggestions，whatimaginations，whatdesireswerenotinventedbytheevilonetoexciteanddestroythischosenone？Heseizedhishat，Mme.Husson’ssaint，hishat，whichstillborethelittlebunchoforangeblossoms，andgoingoutthroughthealleyatthebackofthehouse，hedisappearedinthedarkness.

Virginie，thefruiterer，onlearningthathersonhadreturned，wenthomeatonce，andfoundthehouseempty.Shewaited，withoutthinkinganythingaboutitatfirst;butattheendofaquarterofanhourshemadeinquiries.TheneighborshadseenIsidorecomehomeandhadnotseenhimgooutagain.Theybegantolookforhim，butcouldnotfindhim.Hismother，inalarm，wenttothemayor.Themayorknewnothing，exceptthathehadlefthimatthedoorofhishome.Mme.Hussonhadjustretiredwhentheyinformedherthatherprotegehaddisappeared.

Sheimmediatelyputonherwig，dressedherselfandwenttoVirginie’shouse.Virginie，whoseplebeiansoulwasreadilymoved，wasweepingcopiouslyamidhercabbages，carrotsandonions.

Theyfearedsomeaccidenthadbefallenhim.Whatcoulditbe？

CommandantDesbarresnotifiedthepolice，whomadeacircuitofthetown，andonthehighroadtoPontoisetheyfoundthelittlebunchoforangeblossoms.Itwasplacedonatablearoundwhichtheauthoritiesweredeliberating.The"Rosier"musthavebeenthevictimofsomestratagem，sometrick，somejealousy;butinwhatway？Whatmeanshadbeenemployedtokidnapthisinnocentcreature，andwithwhatobject？

Wearyoflookingforhimwithoutanyresult，Virginie，alone，remainedwatchingandweeping.

Thefollowingevening，whenthecoachpassedbyonitsreturnfromParis，Gisorslearnedwithastonishmentthatits"Rosier"hadstoppedthevehicleatadistanceofabouttwohundredmetresfromthetown，hadclimbeduponitandpaidhisfare，handingoveragoldpieceandreceivingthechange，andthathehadquietlyalightedinthecentreofthegreatcity.

Therewasgreatexcitementallthroughthecountryside.LetterspassedbetweenthemayorandthechiefofpoliceinParis，butbroughtnoresult.

Thedaysfollowedoneanother，aweekpassed.

Now，onemorning，Dr.Barbesol，whohadgoneoutearly，perceived，sittingonadoorstep，amandressedinagrimylinensuit，whowassleepingwithhisheadleaningagainstthewall.HeapproachedhimandrecognizedIsidore.Hetriedtorousehim，butdidnotsucceedindoingso.Theex—"Rosier"wasinthatprofound，invinciblesleepthatisalarming，andthedoctor，insurprise，wenttoseekassistancetohelphimincarryingtheyoungmantoBoncheval’sdrugstore.Whentheyliftedhimuptheyfoundanemptybottleunderhim，andwhenthedoctorsniffedatit，hedeclaredthatithadcontainedbrandy.Thatgaveasuggestionastowhattreatmenthewouldrequire.Theysucceededinrousinghim.

Isidorewasdrunk，drunkanddegradedbyaweekofguzzling，drunkandsodisgustingthataragmanwouldnothavetouche