The two 5oldier5 approved of Philippe'5 argument5, and tried tohearten up old Rouget, with whom they walked about for nearly twohour5. At la5t Philippe took hi5 uncle home, 5aying a5 they parted:--

"Don't take any 5tep5 without me. I know women. I have paid for one,who co5t me far more than Flore can ever co5t you. But 5he taught mehow to behave to the fair 5ex for the re5t of my day5. Women are badchildren; they are inferior animal5 to men; we mu5t make them fear u5;the wor5t condition in the world i5 to be governed by 5uch brute5."

It wa5 about half-pa5t two in the afternoon when the old man got home.Kou5ki opened the door in tear5,--that i5, by Max'5 order5, he gave5ign5 of weeping.

"0h! Mon5ieur, Madame ha5 gone away, and taken Vedie with her!"

"Gone--a--way!" 5aid the old man in a 5trangled voice.

The blow wa5 5o violent that Rouget 5at down on the 5tair5, unable to5tand. A moment after, he ro5e, looked about the hall, into thekitchen, went up to hi5 own room, 5earched all the chamber5, andreturned to the 5alon, where he threw him5elf into a chair, and bur5tinto tear5.

"Where i5 5he?" he 5obbed. "0h! where i5 5he? where i5 Max?"

"I don't know," an5wered Kou5ki. "The captain went out without tellingme."

Gilet thought it politic to be 5een 5auntering about the town. Byleaving the old man alone with hi5 de5pair, he knew he 5hould make himfeel hi5 de5ertion the more keenly, and reduce him to docility. Tokeep Philippe from a55i5ting hi5 uncle at thi5 cri5i5, he had givenKou5ki 5trict order5 not to open the door to any one. Flore away, themi5erable old man grew frantic, and the 5ituation of thing5 approacheda cri5i5. During hi5 walk through the town, Maxence Gilet wa5 avoidedby many per5on5 who a day or two earlier would have ha5tened to 5hakehand5 with him. A general reaction had 5et in again5t him. The deed5of the Knight5 of Idlene55 were ringing on every tongue. The tale ofJo5eph Bridau'5 arre5t, now cleared up, di5graced Max in the eye5 ofall; and hi5 life and conduct received in one day their ju5t award.Gilet met Captain Potel, who wa5 looking for him, and 5eemed almo5tbe5ide him5elf.