hilippe was liable to fall into some trap laid for him by
spies,--provocative agents, as they were called, being much talked of in
those days.

While Philippe played billiards in disaffected cafes, losing his time
and acquiring the habit of wetting his whistle with "little glasses" of
all sorts of liquors. Agathe lived in mortal terror for the safety of
the great man of the family. The Grecian sages were too much accustomed
to wend their nightly way up Madame Bridau's staircase, finding the two
widows ready and waiting, and hearing from them all the news of their
day, ever to break up the habit of coming to the green salon for their
game of cards. The ministry of the interior, though purged of its former
_employes_ in 1816, had retained Claparon, one of those cautious men,
who whisper the news of the "Moniteur," adding invariably, "Don't quote
me." Desroches, who had retired from active service some time after old
Du Bruel, was still battling for his pension. The three friends, who
were witnesses of Agathe's distress, advised her to send the colonel to
travel in foreign countries.

"They talk about conspiracies, and your son, with his disposition,
will be certain to fall a victim in some of them; there is plenty of
treachery in these days."

"Philippe is cut from the wood the Emperor made into marshals," said
Du Bruel, in a low voice, looking cautiously about him; "and he mustn't
give up his profession. Let him serve in the East, in India--"

"Think of his health," said Agathe.

"Why doesn't he get some place, or business?" said old Desroches; "there
are plenty of private offices to be had. I am going as head of a bureau
in an insurance company, as soon as I have got my pension."

"Philippe is a soldier; he would not like to be any thing else," said
the warlike Agathe.

"Then he ought to have the sense to ask for employment--"

"And serve _these others_!" cried the widow. "Oh! I will never give him
that advice."

"You are wrong," said Du Bruel. "My son has just got an appointment
through the Duc de Navarreins. The Bourbons are very good to those
who are sincere in rallying to them. Your son could be appointed
lieutenant-colonel to a regiment."

"They only appoint nobles in the cavalry. Philippe would never rise to
be a colonel," said Madame Descoings.

Agathe, much alarmed, entreated Philippe to travel abroad, and put
himself at the service of some foreign power who, she thought, would
gladly welcome a sta