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of the party。 The next morning Agathe and Madame Descoings； while
preparing breakfast； could not help remarking that soires would be
terribly expensive if Philippe were to go on playing that sort of
game； as the Descoings phrased it。 The worthy old woman； then seventy…
six years of age； proposed to sell her furniture； give up her
appartement on the second floor （which the owner was only too glad to
occupy）； and take Agathe's parlor for her chamber； making the other
room a sitting…room and dining…room for the family。 In this way they
could save seven hundred francs a year； which would enable them to
give Philippe fifty francs a month until he could find something to
do。 Agathe accepted the sacrifice。 When the colonel came down and his
mother had asked how he liked his little bedroom； the two widows
explained to him the situation of the family。 Madame Descoings and
Agathe possessed； by putting all their resources together； an income
of five thousand three hundred francs； four thousand of which belonged
to Madame Descoings and were merely a life annuity。 The Descoings made
an allowance of six hundred a year to Bixiou； whom she had
acknowledged as her grandson during the last few months； also six
hundred to Joseph； the rest of her income； together with that of
Agathe； was spent for the household wants。 All their savings were by
this time eaten up。
〃Make yourselves easy；〃 said the lieutenant…colonel。 〃I'll find a
situation and put you to no expense； all I need for the present is
board and lodging。〃
Agathe kissed her son； and Madame Descoings slipped a hundred francs
into his hand to pay for his losses of the night before。 In ten days
the furniture was sold； the appartement given up； and the change in
Agathe's domestic arrangements accomplished with a celerity seldom
seen outside of Paris。 During those ten days； Philippe regularly
decamped after breakfast； came back for dinner； was off again for the
evening； and only got home about midnight to go to bed。 He contracted
certain habits half mechanically； and they soon became rooted in him；
he got his boots blacked on the Pont Neuf for the two sous it would
have cost him to go by the Pont des Arts to the Palais…Royal； where he
consumed regularly two glasses of brandy while reading the newspapers；
an occupation which employed him till midday； after that he
sauntered along the rue Vivienne to the cafe Minerve； where the
Liberals congregated； and where he played at billiards with a number
of old comrades。 While winning and losing； Philippe swallowed four or
five more glasses of divers liquors； and smoked ten or a dozen cigars
in going and coming； and idling along the streets。 In the evening；
after consuming a few pipes at the Hollandais smoking…rooms； he would
go to some gambling…place towards ten o'clock at night。 The waiter
handed him a card and a pin； he always inquired of certain well…
seasoned players about the chances of the red or the black； and staked
ten francs when the lucky moment seemed to come； never playing more
than three times； win or lose。 If he won； which usually happened； he
drank a tumbler of punch and went home to his garret； but by that time
he talked of smashing the ultras and the Bourbon body…guard； and
trolled out； as he mounted the staircase； 〃We watch to save the
Empire！〃 His poor mother； hearing him； used to think 〃How gay Philippe
is to…night！〃 and then she would creep up and kiss him； without
complaining of the fetid odors of the punch； and the brandy； and the
pipes。
〃You ought to be satisfied with me； my dear mother；〃 he said； towards
the end of January； 〃I lead the most regular of lives。〃
The colonel had dined five times at a restaurant with some of his army
comrades。 These old soldiers were quite frank with each other on the
state of their own affairs； all the while talking of certain hopes
which they based on the building of a submarine vessel； expected to
bring about the deliverance of the Emperor。 Among these former
comrades； Philippe particularly liked an old captain of the dragoons
of the Guard； named Giroudeau； in whose company he had seen his first
service。 This friendship with the late dragoon led Philippe into
completing what Rabelais called 〃the devil's equipage〃； and he added
to his drams； and his tobacco； and his play； a 〃fourth wheel。〃
One evening at the beginning of February； Giroudeau took Philippe
after dinner to the Gaite； occupying a free box sent to a theatrical
journal belonging to his nephew Finot； in whose office Giroudeau was
cashier and secretary。 Both were dressed after the fashion of the
Bonapartist officers who now belonged to the Constitutional
Opposition； they wore ample overcoats with square collars； buttoned to
the chin and coming down to their heels； and decorated with the
rosette of the Legion of honor； and they carried malacca canes with
loaded knobs； which they held by strings of braided leather。 The late
troopers had just （to use one of their own expressions） 〃made a bout
of it；〃 and were mutually unbosoming their hearts as they entered the
box。 Through the fumes of a certain number of bottles and various
glasses of various liquors； Giroudeau pointed out to Philippe a plump
and agile little ballet…girl whom he called Florentine； whose good
graces and affection； together with the box； belonged to him as the
representative of an all…powerful journal。
〃But；〃 said Philippe； 〃I should like to know how far her good graces
go for such an iron…gray old trooper as you。〃
〃Thank God；〃 replied Giroudeau； 〃I've stuck to the traditions of our
glorious uniform。 I have never wasted a farthing upon a woman in my
life。〃
〃What's that？〃 said Philippe； putting a finger on his left eye。
〃That is so；〃 answered Giroudeau。 〃But； between ourselves； the
newspaper counts for a good deal。 To…morrow； in a couple of lines； we
shall advise the managers to let Mademoiselle Florentine dance a
particular step； and so forth。 Faith； my dear boy； I'm uncommonly
lucky！〃
〃Well！〃 thought Philippe； 〃if this worthy Giroudeau； with a skull as
polished as my knee； forty…eight years； a big stomach； a face like a
ploughman； and a nose like a potato； can get a ballet…girl； I ought to
be the lover of the first actress in Paris。 Where does one find such
luck？〃 he said aloud。
〃I'll show you Florentine's place to…night。 My Dulcinea only earns
fifty francs a month at the theatre；〃 added Giroudeau； 〃but she is
very prettily set up； thanks to an old silk dealer named Cardot； who
gives her five hundred francs a month。〃
〃Well； but？〃 exclaimed the jealous Philippe。
〃Bah！〃 said Giroudeau； 〃true love is blind。〃
When the play was over Giroudeau took Philippe to Mademoiselle
Florentine's appartement； which was close to the theatre； in the rue
de Crussol。
〃We must behave ourselves；〃 said Giroudeau。 〃Florentine's mother is
here。 You see； I haven't the means to pay for one； so the worthy woman
is really her own mother。 She used to be a concierge； but she's not
without intelligence。 Call her Madame； she makes a point of it。〃
Florentine happened that night to have a friend with her；a certain
Marie Godeschal； beautiful as an angel； cold as a danseuse； and a
pupil of Vestris； who foretold for her a great choregraphic destiny。
Mademoiselle Godeschal； anxious to make her first appearance at the
Panorama…Dramatique under the name of Mariette； based her hopes on the
protection and influence of a first gentleman of the bedchamber； to
whom Vestris had promised to introduce her。 Vestris； still green
himself at this period； did not think his pupil sufficiently trained
to risk the introduction。 The ambitious girl did； in the end； make her
pseudonym of Mariette famous； and the motive of her ambition； it must
be said； was praiseworthy。 She had a brother； a clerk in Derville's
law office。 Left orphans and very poor； and devoted to each other； the
brother and sister had seen life suc