table，whereheriskedsometriflingstakeandwonenoughtopayforhisdissipations。Apparentlyveryeconomical，thebettertodeceivehismotherandMadameDescoings，heworeahatthatwasgreasy，withthenaprubbedoffattheedges，patchedboots，ashabbyovercoat，onwhichtheredribbonscarcelyshowedsodiscoloredanddirtywasitbylongserviceatthebuttonholeandbythespatteringsofcoffeeandliquors。Hisbuckskingloves，ofagreenishtinge，lastedhimalongwhile；andheonlygaveuphissatinneckclothwhenitwasraggedenoughtolooklikewadding。Mariettewasthesoleobjectofthefellow’slove，andhertreacheryhadgreatlyhardenedhisheart。Whenhehappenedtowinmorethanusual，orifhesuppedwithhisoldcomrade，Giroudeau，hefollowedsomeVenusoftheslums，withbrutalcontemptforthewholesex。Otherwiseregularinhishabits，hebreakfastedanddinedathomeandcameineverynightaboutoneo’clock。ThreemonthsofthishorribleliferestoredAgathetosomedegreeofconfidence。
AsforJoseph，whowasworkingatthesplendidpicturetowhichheafterwardsowedhisreputation，helivedinhisatelier。OnthepredictionofhergrandsonBixiou，MadameDescoingsbelievedinJoseph’sfutureglory，andsheshowedhimeverysortofmotherlykindness；shetookhisbreakfasttohim，shedidhiserrands，sheblackedhisboots。Thepainterwasneverseentilldinner-time，andhiseveningswerespentattheCenacleamonghisfriends。Hereadagreatdeal，andgavehimselfthatdeepandseriouseducationwhichonlycomesthroughtheminditself，andwhichallmenoftalentstriveafterbetweentheagesoftwentyandthirty。Agathe，seeingverylittleofJoseph，andfeelingnouneasinessabouthim，livedonlyforPhilippe，whogaveherthealternationsoffearsexcitedandterrorsallayed，whichseemthelife，asitwere，ofsentiment，andtobeasnecessarytomaternityastolove。Desroches，whocameonceaweektoseethewidowofhispatronandfriend，gaveherhopes。TheDucdeMaufrigneusehadaskedtohavePhilippeinhisregiment；theministerofwarhadorderedaninquiry；andasthenameofBridaudidnotappearonanypolicelist，norananyrecordatthePalaisdeJustice，Philippewouldbereinstatedinthearmyearlyinthecomingyear。
Toarriveatthisresult，Desrochessetallthepowersthathecouldinfluenceinmotion。AttheprefectureofpolicehelearnedthatPhilippespenthiseveningsinthegambling-house；andhethoughtitbesttotellthisfactprivatelytoMadameDescoings，exhortingherkeepaneyeonthelieutenant-colonel，foroneoutbreakwouldimperilall；asitwas，theministerofwarwasnotlikelytoinquirewhetherPhilippegambled。Oncerestoredtohisrankundertheflagofhiscountry，hewouldperhapsabandonaviceonlytakenupfromidleness。
Agathe，whonolongerreceivedherfriendsintheevening，satinthechimney-cornerreadingherprayers，whileMadameDescoingsconsultedthecards，interpretedherdreams，andappliedtherulesofthe“cabala“toherlotteryventures。Thisjovialfanaticnevermissedasingledrawing；shestillpursuedhertrey，——whichneverturnedup。Itwasnearlytwenty-oneyearsold，justapproachingitsmajority；onthisridiculousideatheoldwomannowpinnedherfaith。Oneofitsthreenumbershadstayedatthebottomofallthewheelseversincetheinstitutionofthelottery。Accordingly，MadameDescoingslaidheavystakesonthatparticularnumber，aswellasonallthecombinationsofthethreenumbers。Thelastmattressremainingtoherbedwastheplacewhereshestoredhersavings；sheunsewedtheticking，putinfromtimetotimethebitofgoldsavedfromherneeds，wrappedcarefullyinwool，andthensewedthemattressupagain。Sheintended，atthelastdrawing，toriskallhersavingsonthedifferentcombinationsofhertreasuredtrey。
Thispassion，souniversallycondemned，hasneverbeenfairlystudied。