By leading the young men of the best families in their follies and amusements, and by doing them services, he meant to create a support for himself when the day for recovering his position came.

He rose gracefully and waved his glass of claret, while all the others waited eagerly for the coming allocution.
"As a mark of the ill-will I bear you, I wish you all a mistress who is equal to the beautiful Flore! As to this irruption of relations, I don't feel any present uneasiness; and as to the future, we'll see what comes--" "Don't let us forget Fario's cart!" "Hang it! that's safe enough!" said Goddet.
"Oh! I'll engage to settle that business," cried Max.

"Be in the market-place early, all of you, and let me know when the old fellow goes for his cart." It was striking half-past three in the morning as the Knights slipped out in silence to go to their homes; gliding close to the walls of the houses without making the least noise, shod as they were in list shoes.
Max slowly returned to the place Saint-Jean, situated in the upper part of the town, between the port Saint-Jean and the port Vilatte, the quarter of the rich bourgeoisie.

Maxence Gilet had concealed his fears, but the news had struck home.

His experience on the hulks at Cabrera had taught him a dissimulation as deep and thorough as his corruption.
First, and above all else, the forty thousand francs a year from landed property which old Rouget owned was, let it be clearly understood, the constituent element of Max's passion for Flore Brazier.