AtthetimewhenMadameBridaureturnedtoIssoudun，Maxwasexcludedfromthesocietyoftheplace。Heshowed，moreover，properself-respectinneverpresentinghimselfattheclub，andinnevercomplainingoftheseverereprobationthatwasshownhim；althoughhewasthehandsomest，themostelegant，andthebestdressedmanintheplace，spentagreatdealofmoney，andkeptahorse，——athingasamazingatIssoudunasthehorseofLordByronatVenice。WearenowtoseehowitwasthatMaxence，poorandwithoutapparentmeans，wasabletobecomethedandyofthetown。TheshamefulconductwhichearnedhimthecontemptofallscrupulousorreligiouspersonswasconnectedwiththeinterestswhichbroughtAgatheandJosephtoIssoudun。
Judgingbytheaudacityofhisbearing，andtheexpressionofhisface，Maxcaredlittleforpublicopinion；heexpected，nodoubt，totakehisrevengesomeday，andtolorditoverthosewhonowcondemnedhim。Moreover，ifthebourgeoisieofIssoudunthoughtillofhim，theadmirationheexcitedamongthecommonpeoplecounterbalancedtheiropinion；hiscourage，hisdashingappearance，hisdecisionofcharacter，couldnotfailtopleasethemasses，towhomhisdegradationswere，forthemostpart，unknown，andindeedthebourgeoisiethemselvesscarcelysuspecteditsextent。MaxplayedaroleatIssoudunwhichwassomethinglikethatoftheblacksmithinthe“FairMaidofPerth“；hewasthechampionofBonapartismandtheOpposition；theycounteduponhimastheburghersofPerthcounteduponSmithongreatoccasions。AsingleincidentwillputthisheroandvictimoftheHundred-Daysintoclearrelief。
In1819，abattalioncommandedbyroyalistofficers，youngmenjustoutoftheMaisonRouge，passedthroughIssoudunonitswaytogointogarrisonatBourges。NotknowingwhattodowiththemselvesinsoconstitutionalaplaceasIssoudun，theseyounggentlemenwenttowhileawaythetimeatthecafeMilitaire。Ineveryprovincialtownthereisamilitarycafe。ThatofIssoudun，builtontheplaced’Armesatanangleoftherampart，andkeptbythewidowofanofficer，wasnaturallytherendezvousoftheBonapartists，chieflyofficersonhalf-pay，andotherswhosharedMax’sopinions，towhomthepoliticsofthetownallowedfreeexpressionoftheiridolatryfortheEmperor。
Everyyear，datingfrom1816，abanquetwasgiveninIssouduntocommemoratetheanniversaryofhiscoronation。Thethreeroyalistswhofirstenteredaskedforthenewspapers，amongothers，forthe“Quotidienne“andthe“DrapeauBlanc。“ThepoliticsofIssoudun，especiallythoseofthecafeMilitaire，didnotallowofsuchroyalistjournals。Theestablishmenthadnonebutthe“Commerce，“——anamewhichthe“Constitutionel“wascompelledtoadoptforseveralyearsafteritwassuppressedbythegovernment。Butas，initsfirstissueunderthenewname，theleadingarticlebeganwiththesewords，“Commerceisessentiallyconstitutional，“peoplecontinuedtocallitthe“Constitutionel，“thesubscribersallunderstandingtheslyplayofwordswhichbeggedthemtopaynoattentiontothelabel，asthewinewouldbethesame。
Thefatlandladyrepliedfromherseatatthedeskthatshedidnottakethosepapers。“Whatpapersdoyoutakethen？“askedoneoftheofficers，acaptain。Thewaiter，alittlefellowinablueclothjacket，withanapronofcoarselinentiedoverit，broughtthe“Commerce。“