cubine" and "slut," which the
pen of a septuagenarian as pious as she was respectable had used to
designate the woman now in process of getting hold of Jean-Jacques
Rouget's property, struck also with the word "imbecile" applied to
Rouget himself, she began to ask herself how, by her presence at
Issoudun, she was to save the inheritance. Joseph, poor disinterested
artist that he was, knew little enough about the Code, and his mother's
last remark absorbed his mind.

"Before our friend Desroches sent us off to protect our rights, he ought
to have explained to us the means of doing so," he exclaimed.

"So far as my poor head, which whirls at the thought of Philippe in
prison,--without tobacco, perhaps, and about to appear before the Court
of Peers!--leaves me any distinct memory," returned Agathe, "I think
young Desroches said we were to get evidence of undue influence, in case
my brother has made a will in favor of that--that--woman."

"He is good at that, Desroches is," cried the painter. "Bah! if we can
make nothing of it I'll get him to come himself."

"Well, don't let us trouble our heads uselessly," said Agathe. "When we
get to Issoudun my godmother will tell us what to do."

This conversation, which took place just after Madame Bridau and Joseph
changed coaches at Orleans and entered the Sologne, is sufficient proof
of the incapacity of the painter and his mother to play the part the
inexorable Desroches had assigned to them.

In returning to Issoudun after thirty years' absence, Agathe was about
to find such changes in its manners and customs that it is necessary to
sketch, in a few words, a picture of that town. Without it, the reader
would scarcely understand the heroism displayed by Madame Hochon in
assisting her goddaughter, or the strange situation of Jean-Jacques
Rouget. Though Doctor Rouget had taught his son to regard Agathe in the
light of a stranger, it was certainly a somewhat extraordinary thing
that for thirty years a brother should have given no signs of life to a
sister. Such a silence was evidently caused by peculiar circumstances,
and any other sister and nephew than Agathe and Joseph would long
ago have inquired into them. There is, moreover, a certain connection
between the condition of the city of Issoudun and the interests of the
Bridau family, which can only be seen as the story goes on.

CHAPTER VII

Issoudun, be it said without offence to Paris, is one of the oldest
cities in