thousand francs; you
need only deposit your shares in the Funds, you will draw the interest
all the same."

The two widows, who for nearly two months had been desperately anxious
to find out what Philippe was about, and how he could be provided for,
were so overjoyed at this prospect that they gave no thought to their
other catastrophes. That evening, the Grecian sages, old Du Bruel,
Claparon, whose health was failing, and the inflexible Desroches were
unanimous; they all advised Madame Bridau to go security for her son.
The new journal, which fortunately was started before the assassination
of the Duc de Berry, just escaped the blow which Monsieur Decazes then
launched at the press. Madame Bridau's shares in the Funds, representing
thirteen hundred francs' interest, were transferred as security for
Philippe, who was then appointed cashier. That good son at once promised
to pay one hundred francs every month to the two widows, for his board
and lodging, and was declared by both to be the best of sons. Those who
had thought ill of him now congratulated Agathe.

"We were unjust to him," they said.

Poor Joseph, not to be behind his brother in generosity, resolved to pay
for his own support, and succeeded.

CHAPTER IV

Three months later, the colonel, who ate and drank enough for four men,
finding fault with the food and compelling the poor widows, on the score
of his payments, to spend much money on their table, had not yet paid
down a single penny. His mother and Madame Descoings were unwilling, out
of delicacy, to remind him of his promise. The year went by without one
of those coins which Leon Gozlan so vigorously called "tigers with five
claws" finding its way from Philippe's pocket to the household purse. It
is true that the colonel quieted his conscience on this score by seldom
dining at home.

"Well, he is happy," said his mother; "he is easy in mind; he has a
place."

Through the influence of a feuilleton, edited by Vernou, a friend of
Bixiou, Finot, and Giroudeau, Mariette made her appearance, not at the
Panorama-Dramatique but at the Porte-Saint-Martin, where she triumphed
beside the famous Begrand. Among the directors of the theatre was a rich
and luxurious general officer, in love with an actress, for whose sake
he had made himself an impresario. In Paris, we frequently meet with men
so fascinated with actresses, singers, or ballet-dancers, that they are
willing to become directors of a theatre