Helefttheroomwithoutwaitingforananswer。WhenVediecamein，fifteenminuteslater，toclearthetable，shefoundhermistresspaleandmoistwithperspiration，inspiteoftheseason。Florefeltlikeawomanwhohadfallentothebottomofaprecipice；thefutureloomedblackbeforeher；andonitsblackness，inthefardistance，wereshapesofmonstrousthings，indistinctlyperceptible，andterrifying。
Shefeltthedampchillofvaults，instinctivefearofthemancrushedher；andyetavoicecriedinherearthatshedeservedtohavehimforhermaster。Shewashelplessagainstherfate。FloreBrazierhadhadaroomofherowninRouget’shouse；butMadameRougetbelongedtoherhusband，andwasnowdeprivedofthefree-willofaservant-
mistress。Inthehorriblesituationinwhichshenowfoundherself，thehopeofhavingachildcameintohermind；butshesoonrecognizeditsimpossibility。ThemarriagewastoJean-JacqueswhatthesecondmarriageofLouisXII。wastothatking。TheincessantwatchfulnessofamanlikePhilippe，whohadnothingtodoandneverquittedhispostofobservation，madeanyformofvengeanceimpossible。Benjaminwashisinnocentanddevotedspy。TheVedietrembledbeforehim。Florefeltherselfdesertedandutterlyhelpless。Shebegantofeardeath。
WithoutknowinghowPhilippemightmanagetokillher，shefeltcertainthatwheneverhesuspectedherofpregnancyherdoomwouldbesealed。Thesoundofthatvoice，theveiledglitterofthatgambler’seye，theslightestmovementofthesoldier，whotreatedherwithabrutalitythatwasstillpolite，madehershudder。Astothepowerofattorneydemandedbytheferociouscolonel，whointheeyesofallIssoudunwasahero，hehaditassoonashewantedit；forFlorefellundertheman’sdominionasFrancehadfallenunderthatofNapoleon。
Likeabutterflywhosefeetarecaughtintheincandescentwaxofataper，Rougetrapidlydissipatedhisremainingstrength。Inpresenceofthatdecay，thenephewremainedascoldandimpassibleasthediplomatistsof1814duringtheconvulsionsofimperialFrance。