Pierre had skilfully bound her hand and foot, and made a very submissive servant of her, without opening his lips, without once entering into difficult and compromising explanations.
When the young man felt that his mother was in his power, that he could treat her like a slave, he began, in his own interest, to turn her cerebral weakness and the foolish terror with which his glances inspired her to his own advantage.

His first care, as soon as he was master at home, was to dismiss the market-gardener and replace him by one of his own creatures.

Then he took upon himself the supreme direction of the household, selling, buying, and holding the cash-box.

On the other hand, he made no attempt to regulate Adelaide's actions, or to correct Antoine and Ursule for their laziness.

That mattered little to him, for he counted upon getting rid of these people as soon as an opportunity presented itself.