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〃Au revoir。〃
〃Oh； godfather； you have read my heart！〃 cried Ursula； giving him a
grateful look。
〃You are going to have a voice；〃 he said； 〃and I shall give you
masters of drawing and Italian also。 A woman；〃 added the doctor；
looking at Ursula as he unfastened the gate of his house； 〃ought to be
educated to the height of every position in which her marriage may
place her。〃
Ursula grew red as a cherry； her godfather's thoughts evidently turned
in the same direction as her own。 Feeling that she was too near
confessing to the doctor the involuntary attraction which led her to
think about Savinien and to center all her ideas of affection upon
him； she turned aside and sat down in front of a great cluster of
climbing plants； on the dark background of which she looked at a
distance like a blue and white flower。
〃Now you see； godfather； that your nieces were very kind to me； yes；
they were very kind；〃 she repeated as he approached her； to change the
thoughts that made him pensive。
〃Poor little girl！〃 cried the old man。
He laid Ursula's hand upon his arm； tapping it gently； and took her to
the terraces beside the river； where no one could hear them。
〃Why do you say； 'Poor little girl'？〃
〃Don't you see how they fear you？〃
〃Fear me；why？〃
〃My next of kin are very uneasy about my conversion。 They no doubt
attribute it to your influence over me； they fancy I deprive them of
their inheritance to enrich you。〃
〃But you won't do that？〃 said Ursula naively； looking up at him。
〃Oh； divine consolation of my old age！〃 said the doctor； taking his
godchild in his arms and kissing her on both cheeks。 〃It was for her
and not for myself； oh God！ that I besought thee just now to let me
live until the day I give her to some good being who is worthy of her！
You will see comedies； my little angel； comedies which the Minorets
and Cremieres and Massins will come and play here。 You want to
brighten and prolong my life； they are longing for my death。〃
〃God forbids us to hate any one； but if that is Ah！ I despise them！〃
exclaimed Ursula。
〃Dinner is ready！〃 called La Bougival from the portico； which； on the
garden side； was at the end of the corridor。
CHAPTER IX
A FIRST CONFIDENCE
Ursula and her godfather were sitting at dessert in the pretty dining…
room decorated with Chinese designs in black and gold lacquer （the
folly of Levrault…Levrault） when the justice of peace arrived。 The
doctor offered him （and this was a great mark of intimacy） a cup of
his coffee； a mixture of Mocha with Bourbon and Martinique； roasted；
ground； and made by himself in a silver apparatus called a Chaptal。
〃Well；〃 said Bongrand； pushing up his glasses and looking slyly at the
old man； 〃the town is in commotion； your appearance in church has put
your relatives beside themselves。 You have left your fortune to the
priests； to the poor。 You have roused the families； and they are
bestirring themselves。 Ha！ ha！ I saw their first irruption into the
square； they were as busy as ants who have lost their eggs。〃
〃What did I tell you； Ursula？〃 cried the doctor。 〃At the risk of
grieving you； my child； I must teach you to know the world and put you
on your guard against undeserved enmity。〃
〃I should like to say a word to you on this subject；〃 said Bongrand；
seizing the occasion to speak to his old friend of Ursula's future。
The doctor put a black velvet cap on his white head； the justice of
peace wore his hat to protect him from the night air； and they walked
up and down the terrace discussing the means of securing to Ursula
what her godfather intended to bequeath her。 Bongrand knew Dionis's
opinion as to the invalidity of a will made by the doctor in favor of
Ursula； for Nemours was so preoccupied with the Minoret affairs that
the matter had been much discussed among the lawyers of the little
town。 Bongrand considered that Ursula was not a relative of Doctor
Minoret； but he felt that the whole spirit of legislation was against
the foisting into families of illegitimate off…shoots。 The makers of
the Code had foreseen only the weakness of fathers and mothers for
their natural children； without considering that uncles and aunts
might have a like tenderness and a desire to provide for such
children。 Evidently there was a gap in the law。
〃In all other countries；〃 he said； ending an explanation of the legal
points which Dionis； Goupil； and Desire had just explained to the
heirs； 〃Ursula would have nothing to fear； she is a legitimate child；
and the disability of her father ought only to affect the inheritance
from Valentine Mirouet； her grandfather。 But in France the magistracy
is unfortunately overwise and very consequential； it inquires into the
spirit of the law。 Some lawyers talk morality； and might try to show
that this hiatus in the Code came from the simple…mindedness of the
legislators； who did not foresee the case； though； none the less； they
established a principle。 To bring a suit would be long and expensive。
Zelie would carry it to the court of appeals； and I might not be alive
when the case was tried。〃
〃The best of cases is often worthless；〃 cried the doctor。 〃Here's the
question the lawyers will put； 'To what degree of relationship ought
the disability of natural children in matters of inheritance to
extend？' and the credit of a good lawyer will lie in gaining a bad
cause。〃
〃Faith！〃 said Bongrand； 〃I dare not take upon myself to affirm that
the judges wouldn't interpret the meaning of the law as increasing the
protection given to marriage； the eternal base of society。〃
Without explaining his intentions； the doctor rejected the idea of a
trust。 When Bongrand suggested to him a marriage with Ursula as the
surest means of securing his property to her； he exclaimed； 〃Poor
little girl！ I might live fifteen years； what a fate for her！〃
〃Well； what will you do； then？〃 asked Bongrand。
〃We'll think about itI'll see；〃 said the old man； evidently at a
loss for a reply。
Just then Ursula came to say that Monsieur Dionis wished to speak to
the doctor。
〃Already！〃 cried Minoret； looking at Bongrand。 〃Yes；〃 he said to
Ursula； 〃send him here。〃
〃I'll bet my spectacles to a bunch of matches that he is the advance…
guard of your heirs；〃 said Bongrand。 〃They breakfasted together at the
post house； and something is being engineered。〃
The notary； conducted by Ursula； came to the lower end of the garden。
After the usual greetings and a few insignificant remarks； Dionis
asked for a private interview； Ursula and Bongrand retired to the
salon。
The distrust which superior men excite in men of business is very
remarkable。 The latter deny them the 〃lesser〃 powers while recognizing
their possession of the 〃higher。〃 It is； perhaps； a tribute to them。
Seeing them always on the higher plane of human things； men of
business believe them incapable of descending to the infinitely petty
details which （like the dividends of finance and the microscopic facts
of science） go to equalize capital and to form the worlds。 They are
mistaken！ The man of honor and of genius sees all。 Bongrand； piqued by
the doctor's silence； but impelled by a sense of Ursula's interests
which he thought endangered； resolved to defend her against the heirs。
He was wretched at not knowing what was taking place between the old
man and Dionis。
〃No matter how pure and innocent Ursula may be；〃 he thought as he
looked at her； 〃there is a point on which young girls do make their
own law and their own morality。 I'll test here。 The Minoret…
Levraults；〃 he began； settling his spectacles； 〃might possibly ask you
in marriage for their son。〃
The poor child turned pale。 She was too well trained； and had too much
delicacy to listen to what Dionis was saying to her uncle； but after a
moment's inward deliberation； she thought she might show herself； and
then； if she was in the way； her godfather would let her know it。 The
Chinese pagoda which the doctor made his study had outside blinds to
the glass doors； Ursula invented the excuse of shutting them。 She
begged Monsieur Bongrand's pardon for leaving him alone in the salon；
but he smiled at her and said； 〃Go！ go！〃
Ursula went down the steps of the portico which led to the pagoda at
the foot of the garden。 She stood for some minutes slowly arranging
the blinds and watching the sunset。 The doctor and notary were at the
end of the terrace； but as they turned she heard the doctor make an
answer which reached the pagoda where she was。
〃My heirs would be delighted to see me invest my property in real
estate or mortgages； they imagine it would be safer there。 I know
exactly what they are saying； perhaps you come from them。 Let me tell
you； my good sir； that my disposition of my property is irrevocably
made。 My heirs will have the capital I brought here with me； I wish