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which Goupil speaks of；though I don't think him capable of that； it
is a dangerous thing。 As for marriage； that is easy to prevent。 Desire
there has only got to hold out a finger to the girl； she's sure to
prefer a handsome young man； cock of the walk in Nemours； to an old
one。〃
〃Mother；〃 said Desire to Zelie's ear； as much allured by the millions
as by Ursula's beauty； 〃If I married her we should get the whole
property。〃
〃Are you crazy？you； who'll some day have fifty thousand francs a
year and be made a deputy！ As long as I live you never shall cut your
throat by a foolish marriage。 Seven hundred thousand francs； indeed！
Why； the mayor's only daughter will have fifty thousand a year； and
they have already proposed her to me〃
This reply； the first rough speech his mother had ever made to him；
extinguished in Desire's breast all desire for a marriage with the
beautiful Ursula； for his father and he never got the better of any
decision once written in the terrible blue eyes of Zelie Minoret。
〃Yes； but see here； Monsieur Dionis；〃 cried Cremiere； whose wife had
been nudging him； 〃if the good man took the thing seriously and
married his goddaughter to Desire； giving her the reversion of all the
property； good…by to our share in it； if he lives five years longer
uncle may be worth a million。〃
〃Never！〃 cried Zelie； 〃never in my life shall Desire marry the
daughter of a bastard； a girl picked up in the streets out of charity。
My son will represent the Minorets after the death of his uncle； and
the Minorets have five hundred years of good bourgeoisie behind them。
That's equal to the nobility。 Don't be uneasy； any of you； Desire will
marry when we find a chance to put him in the Chamber of deputies。〃
This lofty declaration was backed by Goupil； who said：
〃Desire； with an allowance of twenty…four thousand francs a year； will
be president of a royal court or solicitor…general； either office
leads to the peerage。 A foolish marriage would ruin him。〃
The heirs were now all talking at once； but they suddenly held their
tongues when Minoret rapped on the table with his fist to keep silence
for the notary。
〃Your uncle is a worthy man；〃 continued Dionis。 〃He believes he's
immortal； and； like most clever men； he'll let death overtake him
before he has made a will。 My advice therefore is to induce him to
invest his capital in a way that will make it difficult for him to
disinherit you； and I know of an opportunity； made to hand。 That
little Portenduere is in Saint…Pelagie； locked…up for one hundred and
some odd thousand francs' worth of debt。 His old mother knows he is in
prison； she is crying like a Magdalen。 The abbe is to dine with her；
no doubt she wants to talk to him about her troubles。 Well； I'll go
and see your uncle to…night and persuade him to sell his five per cent
consols； which are now at 118； and lend Madame de Portenduere； on the
security of her farm at Bordieres and her house here； enough to pay
the debts of the prodigal son。 I have a right as notary to speak to
him in behalf of young Portenduere； and it is quite natural that I
should wish to make him change his investments； I get deeds and
commissions out of the business。 If I become his adviser I'll propose
to him other land investments for his surplus capital； I have some
excellent ones now in my office。 If his fortune were once invested in
landed estate or in mortgage notes in this neighbourhood； it could not
take wings to itself very easily。 It is easy to make difficulties
between the wish to realize and the realization。〃
The heirs； struck with the truth of this argument （much cleverer than
that of Monsieur Josse）； murmured approval。
〃You must be careful；〃 said the notary in conclusion； 〃to keep your
uncle in Nemours； where his habits are known； and where you can watch
him。 Find him a lover for the girl and you'll prevent his marrying her
himself。〃
〃Suppose she married the lover？〃 said Goupil； seized by an ambitious
desire。
〃That wouldn't be a bad thing； then you could figure up the loss； the
old man would have to say how much he gives her；〃 replied the notary。
〃But if you set Desire at her he could keep the girl dangling on till
the old man died。 Marriages are made and unmade。〃
〃The shortest way；〃 said Goupil； 〃if the doctor is likely to live much
longer； is to marry her to some worthy young man who will get her out
of your way by settling at Sens； or Montargis； or Orleans with a
hundred thousand francs in hand。〃
Dionis； Massin； Zelie； and Goupil； the only intelligent heads in the
company； exchanged four thoughtful smiles。
〃He'd be a worm at the core；〃 whispered Zelie to Massin。
〃How did he get here？〃 returned the clerk。
〃That will just suit you！〃 cried Desire to Goupil。 〃But do you think
you can behave decently enough to satisfy the old man and the girl？〃
〃In these days；〃 whispered Zelie again in Massin's year； 〃notaries
look out for no interests but their own。 Suppose Dionis went over to
Ursula just to get the old man's business？〃
〃I am sure of him；〃 said the clerk of the court； giving her a sly look
out of his spiteful little eyes。 He was just going to add； 〃because I
hold something over him；〃 but he withheld the words。
〃I am quite of Dionis's opinion；〃 he said aloud。
〃So am I；〃 cried Zelie； who now suspected the notary of collusion with
the clerk。
〃My wife has voted！〃 said the post master； sipping his brandy； though
his face was already purple from digesting his meal and absorbing a
notable quantity of liquids。
〃And very properly；〃 remarked the collector。
〃I shall go and see the doctor after dinner；〃 said Dionis。
〃If Monsieur Dionis's advice is good；〃 said Madame Cremiere to Madame
Massin； 〃we had better go and call on our uncle； as we used to do；
every Sunday evening； and behave exactly as Monsieur Dionis has told
us。〃
〃Yes； and be received as he received us！〃 cried Zelie。 〃Minoret and I
have more than forty thousand francs a year； and yet he refused our
invitations！ We are quite his equals。 If I don't know how to write
prescriptions I know how to paddle my boat as well as heI can tell
him that！〃
〃As I am far from having forty thousand francs a year；〃 said Madame
Massin； rather piqued； 〃I don't want to lose ten thousand。〃
〃We are his nieces； we ought to take care of him； and then besides we
shall see how things are going；〃 said Madame Cremiere； 〃you'll thank
us some day； cousin。〃
〃Treat Ursula kindly；〃 said the notary； lifting his right forefinger
to the level of his lips； 〃remember old Jordy left her his savings。〃
〃You have managed those fools as well as Desroches； the best lawyer in
Paris； could have done；〃 said Goupil to his patron as they left the
post…house。
〃And now they are quarreling over my fee；〃 replied the notary； smiling
bitterly。
The heirs； after parting with Dionis and his clerk； met again in the
square； with face rather flushed from their breakfast； just as vespers
were over。 As the notary predicted； the Abbe Chaperon had Madame de
Portenduere on his arm。
〃She dragged him to vespers； see！〃 cried Madame Massin to Madame
Cremiere； pointing to Ursula and the doctor； who were leaving the
church。
〃Let us go and speak to him；〃 said Madame Cremiere； approaching the
old man。
The change in the faces of his relatives （produced by the conference）
did not escape Doctor Minoret。 He tried to guess the reason of this
sudden amiability； and out of sheer curiosity encouraged Ursula to
stop and speak to the two women； who were eager to greet her with
exaggerated affection and forced smiles。
〃Uncle； will you permit me to come and see you to…night？〃 said Madame
Cremiere。 〃We feared sometimes we were in your waybut it is such a
long time since our children have paid you their respects； our girls
are old enough now to make dear Ursula's acquaintance。〃
〃Ursula is a little bear； like her name；〃 replied the doctor。
〃Let us tame her；〃 said Madame Massin。 〃And besides； uncle；〃 added the
good housewife； trying to hide her real motive under a mask of
economy； 〃they tell us the dear girl has such talent for the forte
that we are very anxious to hear her。 Madame Cremiere and I are
inclined to take her music…master for our children。 If there were six
or eight scholars in a class it would bring the price of his lessons
within our means。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said the old man； 〃and it will be all the better for me
because I want to give Ursula a singing…master。〃
〃Well； to…night then； uncle。 We will bring your great…nephew Desire to
see you； he is now a lawyer。〃
〃Yes； to…night；〃 echoed Minoret； meaning to fathom the motives of
these petty souls。
The two nieces pressed Ursula's hand； saying； with affected eagerness；
〃Au revoir。〃
〃Oh； godfather； you have read my heart！〃 cried Ursula； giving him a
grate