the two brothers-第68章
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〃Well； Captain Renard；〃 said one of the townsfolk to Max's friend。
〃They say wolves don't devour each other； but it seems that Max is
going to set his teeth in Colonel Bridau。 That's pretty serious among
you gentlemen of the Old Guard。〃
〃You make fun of it； do you？ Because the poor fellow amused himself a
little at night； you are all against him；〃 said Potel。 〃But Gilet is a
man who couldn't stay in a hole like Issoudun without finding
something to do。〃
〃Well； gentlemen；〃 remarked another； 〃Max and the colonel must play
out their game。 Bridau had to avenge his brother。 Don't you remember
Max's treachery to the poor lad？〃
〃Bah！ nothing but an artist；〃 said Renard。
〃But the real question is about the old man's property；〃 said a third。
〃They say Monsieur Gilet was laying hands on fifty thousand francs a
year； when the colonel turned him out of his uncle's house。〃
〃Gilet rob a man！ Come； don't say that to any one but me； Monsieur
Canivet；〃 cried Potel。 〃If you do； I'll make you swallow your tongue；
and without any sauce。〃
Every household in town offered prayers for the honorable Colonel
Bridau。
CHAPTER XVI
Towards four o'clock the following day； the officers of the old army
who were at Issoudun or its environs； were sauntering about the place
du Marche； in front of an eating…house kept by a man named Lacroix；
and waiting the arrival of Colonel Philippe Bridau。 The banquet in
honor of the coronation was to take place with military punctuality at
five o'clock。 Various groups of persons were talking of Max's
discomfiture； and his dismissal from old Rouget's house； for not only
were the officers to dine at Lacroix's； but the common soldiers had
determined on a meeting at a neighboring wine…shop。 Among the
officers； Potel and Renard were the only ones who attempted to defend
Max。
〃Is it any of our business what takes place among the old man's
heirs？〃 said Renard。
〃Max is weak with women；〃 remarked the cynical Potel。
〃There'll be sabres unsheathed before long；〃 said an old sub…
lieutenant； who cultivated a kitchen…garden in the upper Baltan。 〃If
Monsieur Maxence Gilet committed the folly of going to live under old
Rouget's roof； he would he a coward if he allowed himself to be turned
off like a valet without asking why。〃
〃Of course；〃 said Mignonnet dryly。 〃A folly that doesn't succeed
becomes a crime。〃
At this moment Max joined the old soldiers of Napoleon； and was
received in significant silence。 Potel and Renard each took an arm of
their friend； and walked about with him； conversing。 Presently
Philippe was seen approaching in full dress； he trailed his cane after
him with an imperturbable air which contrasted with the forced
attention Max was paying to the remarks of his two supporters。
Bridau's hand was grasped by Mignonnet； Carpentier； and several
others。 This welcome； so different from that accorded to Max；
dispelled the last feeling of cowardice； or； if you prefer it； wisdom；
which Flore's entreaties； and above all； her tendernesses； had
awakened in the latter's mind。
〃We shall fight；〃 he said to Renard； 〃and to the death。 Therefore
don't talk to me any more； let me play my part well。〃
After these words； spoken in a feverish tone； the three Bonapartists
returned to the group of officers and mixed among them。 Max bowed
first to Bridau； who returned his bow； and the two exchanged a frigid
glance。
〃Come； gentlemen； let us take our seats；〃 said Potel。
〃And drink to the health of the Little Corporal； who is now in the
paradise of heroes；〃 cried Renard。
The company poured into the long； low dining…hall of the restaurant
Lacroix； the windows of which opened on the market…place。 Each guest
took his seat at the table； where； in compliance with Philippe's
request； the two adversaries were placed directly opposite to each
other。 Some young men of the town； among them several Knights of
Idleness； anxious to know what might happen at the banquet； were
walking about the street and discussing the critical position into
which Philippe had contrived to force Max。 They all deplored the
crisis； though each considered the duel to be inevitable。
Everything went off well until the dessert； though the two antagonists
displayed； in spite of the apparent joviality of the dinner； a certain
vigilance that resembled disquietude。 While waiting for the quarrel
that both were planning； Philippe showed admirable coolness； and Max a
distracting gayety； but to an observer； each was playing a part。
When the desert was served Philippe rose and said： 〃Fill your glasses；
my friends！ I ask permission to propose the first toast。〃
〃He said MY FRIENDS； don't fill your glass；〃 whispered Renard to Max。
Max poured out some wine。
〃To the Grand Army！〃 cried Philippe； with genuine enthusiasm。
〃To the Grand Army！〃 was repeated with acclamation by every voice。
At this moment eleven private soldiers； among whom were Benjamin and
Kouski； appeared at the door of the room and repeated the toast；
〃To the Grand Army！〃
〃Come in； my sons； we are going to drink His health。〃
The old soldiers came in and stood behind the officers。
〃You see He is not dead！〃 said Kouski to an old sergeant； who had
perhaps been grieving that the Emperor's agony was over。
〃I claim the second toast；〃 said Mignonnet； as he rose。 〃Let us drink
to those who attempted to restore his son！〃
Every one present； except Maxence Gilet； bowed to Philippe Bridau； and
stretched their glasses towards him。
〃One word；〃 said Max； rising。
〃It is Max！ it is Max！〃 cried voices outside； and then a deep silence
reigned in the room and in the street； for Gilet's known character
made every one expect a taunt。
〃May we ALL meet again at this time next year；〃 said Max； bowing
ironically to Philippe。
〃It's coming！〃 whispered Kouski to his neighbor。
〃The Paris police would never allow a banquet of this kind；〃 said
Potel to Philippe。
〃Why do the devil to you mention the police to Colonel Bridau？〃 said
Maxence insolently。
〃Captain PotelHEmeant no insult；〃 said Philippe； smiling coldly。
The stillness was so profound that the buzzing of a fly could have
been heard if there had been one。
〃The police were sufficiently afraid of me；〃 resumed Philippe； 〃to
send me to Issoudun；a place where I have had the pleasure of meeting
old comrades； but where； it must be owned； there is a dearth of
amusement。 For a man who doesn't despise folly； I'm rather restricted。
However； it is certainly economical； for I am not one of those to whom
feather…beds give incomes； Mariette of the Grand Opera cost me
fabulous sums。〃
〃Is that remark meant for me； my dear colonel？〃 asked Max； sending a
glance at Philippe which was like a current of electricity。
〃Take it as you please；〃 answered Bridau。
〃Colonel； my two friends here； Renard and Potel； will call to…morrow
on〃
〃on Mignonnet and Carpentier；〃 answered Philippe； cutting short
Max's sentence； and motioning towards his two neighbors。
〃Now；〃 said Max； 〃let us go on with the toasts。〃
The two adversaries had not raised their voices above the tone of
ordinary conversation； there was nothing solemn in the affair except
the dead silence in which it took place。
〃Look here； you others！〃 cried Philippe； addressing the soldiers who
stood behind the officers； 〃remember that our affairs don't concern
the bourgeoisienot a word； therefore； on what goes on here。 It is
for the Old Guard only。〃
〃They'll obey orders； colonel；〃 said Renard。 〃I'll answer for them。〃
〃Long live His little one！ May he reign over France！〃 cried Potel。
〃Death to Englishmen！〃 cried Carpentier。
That toast was received with prodigious applause。
〃Shame on Hudson Lowe；〃 said Captain Renard。
The dessert passed off well； the libations were plentiful。 The
antagonists an
