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grandeur of religion and the value of its practices； you will find its
philosophy in human aspects far higher than that of the boldest
sceptics。〃
The abbe； who showed a joy that was almost infantine； agreed to
catechize the old man and confer with him twice a week。 Thus the
conversion attributed to Ursula and to a spirit of sordid calculation；
was the spontaneous act of the doctor himself。 The abbe； who for
fourteen years had abstained from touching the wounds of that heart；
though all the while deploring them； was now asked for help； as a
surgeon is called to an injured man。 Ever since this scene Ursula's
evening prayers had been said in common with her godfather。 Day after
day the old man grew more conscious of the peace within him that
succeeded all his conflicts。 Having； as he said； God as the
responsible editor of things inexplicable； his mind was at ease。 His
dear child told him that he might know by how far he had advanced
already in God's kingdom。 During the mass which we have seen him
attend； he had read the prayers and applied his own intelligence to
them； from the first； he had risen to the divine idea of the communion
of the faithful。 The old neophyte understood the eternal symbol
attached to that sacred nourishment； which faith renders needful to
the soul after conveying to it her own profound and radiant essence。
When on leaving the church he had seemed in a hurry to get home； it
was merely that he might once more thank his dear child for having led
him to 〃enter religion；〃the beautiful expression of former days。 He
was holding her on his knee in the salon and kissing her forehead
sacredly at the very moment when his relatives were degrading that
saintly influence with their shameless fears； and casting their vulgar
insults upon Ursula。 His haste to return home； his assumed disdain for
their company； his sharp replies as he left the church were naturally
attributed by all the heirs to the hatred Ursula had excited against
them in the old man's mind。
CHAPTER VIII
THE CONFERENCE
While Ursula was playing variations on Weber's 〃Last Thought〃 to her
godfather； a plot was hatching in the Minoret…Levraults' dining…room
which was destined to have a lasting effect on the events of this
drama。 The breakfast； noisy as all provincial breakfasts are； and
enlivened by excellent wines brought to Nemours by the canal either
from Burgundy or Touraine； lasted more than two hours。 Zelie had sent
for oysters； salt…water fish； and other gastronomical delicacies to do
honor to Desire's return。 The dining…room； in the center of which a
round table offered a most appetizing sight； was like the hall of an
inn。 Content with the size of her kitchens and offices； Zelie had
built a pavilion for the family between the vast courtyard and a
garden planted with vegetables and full of fruit…trees。 Everything
about the premises was solid and plain。 The example of Levrault…
Levrault had been a warning to the town。 Zelie forbade her builder to
lead her into such follies。 The dining…room was； therefore； hung with
varnished paper and furnished with walnut chairs and sideboards； a
porcelain stove； a tall clock； and a barometer。 Though the plates and
dishes were of common white china； the table shone with handsome linen
and abundant silverware。 After Zelie had served the coffee； coming and
going herself like shot in a decanter；for she kept but one servant；
and when Desire； the budding lawyer； had been told of the event of
the morning and its probably consequences； the door was closed； and
the notary Dionis was called upon to speak。 By the silence in the room
and the looks that were cast on that authoritative face； it was easy
to see the power that such men exercise over families。
〃My dear children；〃 said he； 〃your uncle having been born in 1746； is
eighty…three years old at the present time； now； old men are given to
folly； and that little〃
〃Viper！〃 cried Madame Massin。
〃Hussy！〃 said Zelie。
〃Let us call her by her own name；〃 said Dionis。
〃Well； she's a thief；〃 said Madame Cremiere。
〃A pretty thief；〃 remarked Desire。
〃That little Ursula；〃 went on Dionis； 〃has managed to get hold of his
heart。 I have been thinking of your interests； and I did not wait
until now before making certain inquiries； now this is what I have
discovered about that young〃
〃Marauder；〃 said the collector。
〃Inveigler；〃 said the clerk of the court。
〃Hold your tongue； friends；〃 said the notary； 〃or I'll take my hat and
be off。〃
〃Come； come； papa；〃 cried Minoret； pouring out a little glass of rum
and offering it to the notary； 〃here； drink this； it comes from Rome
itself； and now go on。〃
〃Ursula is； it is true； the legitimate daughter of Joseph Mirouet； but
her father was the natural son of Valentin Mirouet； your uncle's
father…in…law。 Being therefore an illegitimate niece； any will the
doctor might make in her favor could probably be contested； and if he
leaves her his fortune in that way you could bring a suit against
Ursula。 This； however； might turn out ill for you； in case the court
took the view that there was no relationship between Ursula and the
doctor。 Still； the suit would frighten an unprotected girl； and bring
about a compromise〃
〃The law is so rigid as to the rights of natural children；〃 said the
newly fledged licentiate； eager to parade his knowledge； 〃that by the
judgment of the court of appeals dated July 7； 1817； a natural child
can claim nothing from his natural grandfather； not even a
maintenance。 So you see the illegitimate parentage is made
retrospective。 The law pursues the natural child even to its
legitimate descent； on the ground that benefactions done to
grandchildren reach the natural son through that medium。 This is shown
by articles 757； 908； and 911 of the civil Code。 The royal court of
Paris； by a decision of the 26th of January of last year； cut off a
legacy made to the legitimate child of a natural son by his
grandfather； who； as grandfather； was as distant to a natural grandson
as the doctor； being an uncle； is to Ursula。〃
〃All that；〃 said Goupil； 〃seems to me to relate only to the bequests
made by grandfathers to natural descendants。 Ursula is not a blood
relation of Doctor Minoret。 I remember a decision of the royal court
at Colmar； rendered in 1825； just before I took my degree； which
declared that after the decease of a natural child his descendants
could no longer be prohibited from inheriting。 Now； Ursula's father is
dead。〃
Goupil's argument produced what journalists who report the sittings of
legislative assemblies are wont to call 〃profound sensation。〃
〃What does that signify？〃 cried Dionis。 〃The actual case of the
bequest of an uncle to an illegitimate child may not yet have been
presented for trial； but when it is； the sternness of French law
against such children will be all the more firmly applied because we
live in times when religion is honored。 I'll answer for it that out of
such a suit as I propose you could get a compromise；especially if
they see you are determined to carry Ursula to a court of appeals。〃
Here the joy of the heirs already fingering their gold was made
manifest in smiles； shrugs； and gestures round the table； and
prevented all notice of Goupil's dissent。 This elation； however； was
succeeded by deep silence and uneasiness when the notary uttered his
next word； a terrible 〃But！〃
As if he had pulled the string of a puppet…show； starting the little
people in jerks by means of machinery； Dionis beheld all eyes turned
on him and all faces rigid in one and the same pose。
〃BUT no law prevents your uncle from adopting or marrying Ursula；〃 he
continued。 〃As for adoption； that could be contested； and you would； I
think； have equity on your side。 The royal courts would never trifle
with questions of adoptions； you would get a hearing there。 It is true
the doctor is an officer of the Legion of honor； and was formerly
surgeon to the ex…emperor； but； nevertheless； he would get the worst
of it。 Moreover； you would have due warning in case of adoptionbut
how about marriage？ Old Minoret is shrewd enough to go to Paris and
marry her after a year's domicile； and give her a million by the
marriage contract。 The only thing； therefore； that really puts your
property in danger is your uncle's marriage with the girl。〃
Here the notary paused。
〃There's another danger；〃 said Goupil； with a knowing air；〃that of a
will made in favor of a third person； old Bongrand for instance； who
will hold the property in trust for Mademoiselle Ursula〃
〃If you tease your uncle；〃 continued Dionis； cutting short his head…
clerk； 〃if you are not all of you very polite to Ursula； you will
drive him into either a marriage or into making that private trust
which Goupil speaks of；though I don't think him capable of that； it
is a dangerous thing。 As for ma