ground. All the
astute lawyer wanted was the effect produced by his request.

At midday Monsieur Desfondrilles made his report on the case, and the
court rendered a decision that there was no ground for further action.

Rogron dared not go to Pierrette's funeral, at which the whole town
was present. Vinet wished to force him there, but the miserable man was
afraid of exciting universal horror.

Brigaut left Provins after watching the filling up of the grave where
Pierrette lay, and went on foot to Paris. He wrote a petition to the
Dauphiness asking, in the name of his father, that he might enter the
Royal guard, to which he was at once admitted. When the expedition to
Algiers was undertaken he wrote to her again, to obtain employment in
it. He was then a sergeant; Marshal Bourmont gave him an appointment as
sub-lieutenant in a line regiment. The major's son behaved like a man
who wished to die. Death has, however, respected Jacques Brigaut up
to the present time; although he has distinguished himself in all the
recent expeditions he has never yet been wounded. He is now major in a
regiment of infantry. No officer is more taciturn or more trustworthy.
Outside of his duty he is almost mute; he walks alone and lives
mechanically. Every one divines and respects a hidden sorrow. He
possesses forty-six thousand francs, which old Madame Lorrain, who died
in Paris in 1829, bequeathed to him.

At the elections of 1830 Vinet was made a deputy. The services he
rendered the new government have now earned him the position of
_procureur-general_. His influence is such that he will always remain a
deputy. Rogron is receiver-general in the same town where Vinet fulfils
his legal functions; and by one of those curious tricks of chance which
do so often occur, Monsieur Tiphaine is president of the Royal court in
the same town,--for the worthy man gave in his adhesion to the dynasty
of July without the slightest hesitation. The ex-beautiful Madame
Tiphaine lives on excellent terms with the beautiful Madame Rogron.
Vinet is hand in glove with Madame Tiphaine.

As to the imbecile Rogron, he makes such remarks as, "Louis-Philippe
will never be really king till he is able to make nobles."

The speech is evidently not his own. His health is failing, which
allows Madame Rogron to hope she may soon marry the General Marquis de
Montriveau, peer of France, who commands the department, and is paying
her attentions. Vinet is in his element, se