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horses； papa Minoret？ I wouldn't let myself be humiliated if I were
youI'd buy a carriage fit for a prince。〃
〃Come； Cabirolle； tell us；〃 said Massin； 〃is it the girl who drives
our uncle into such luxury？〃
〃I don't know；〃 said Cabirolle； 〃but she is almost mistress of the
house。 There are masters upon masters down from Paris。 They say now
she is going to study painting。〃
〃Then I shall seize the occasion to have my portrait drawn；〃 said
Madame Cremiere。
In the provinces they always say a picture is drawn； not painted。
〃The old German is not dismissed； is he？〃 said Madame Massin。
〃He was there yesterday；〃 replied Cabirolle。
〃Now；〃 said Goupil； 〃you may as well give up counting on your
inheritance。 Ursula is seventeen years old； and she is prettier than
ever。 Travel forms young people； and the little minx has got your
uncle in the toils。 Five or six parcels come down for her by the
diligence every week； and the dressmakers and milliners come too； to
try on her gowns and all the rest of it。 Madame Dionis is furious。
Watch for Ursula as she comes out of church and look at the little
scarf she is wearing round her neck；real cashmere； and it cost six
hundred francs！〃
If a thunderbolt had fallen in the midst of the heirs the effect would
have been less than that of Goupil's last words； the mischief…maker
stood by rubbing his hands。
The doctor's old green salon had been renovated by a Parisian
upholsterer。 Judged by the luxury displayed； he was sometimes accused
of hoarding immense wealth； sometimes of spending his capital on
Ursula。 The heirs called him in turn a miser and a spendthrift； but
the saying； 〃He's an old fool！〃 summed upon； on the whole； the verdict
of the neighbourhood。 These mistaken judgments of the little town had
the one advantage of misleading the heirs； who never suspected the
love between Savinien and Ursula； which was the secret reason of the
doctor's expenditure。 The old man took the greatest delights in
accustoming his godchild to her future station in the world。
Possessing an income of over fifty thousand francs a year； it gave him
pleasure to adorn his idol。
In the month of February； 1832； the day when Ursula was eighteen； her
eyes beheld Savinien in the uniform of an ensign as she looked from
her window when she rose in the morning。
〃Why didn't I know he was coming？〃 she said to herself。
After the taking of Algiers； Savinien had distinguished himself by an
act of courage which won him the cross。 The corvette on which he was
serving was many months at sea without his being able to communicate
with the doctor； and he did not wish to leave the service without
consulting him。 Desirous of retaining in the navy a name already
illustrious in its service； the new government had profited by a
general change of officers to make Savinien an ensign。 Having obtained
leave of absence for fifteen days； the new officer arrived from Toulon
by the mail； in time for Ursula's fete； intending to consult the
doctor at the same time。
〃He has come！〃 cried Ursula rushing into her godfather's bedroom。
〃Very good；〃 he answered； 〃I can guess what brings him； and he may now
stay in Nemours。〃
〃Ah！ that's my birthday presentit is all in that sentence；〃 she
said； kissing him。
On a sign； which she ran up to make from her window； Savinien came
over at once； she longed to admire him； for he seemed to her so
changed for the better。 Military service does； in fact； give a certain
grave decision to the air and carriage and gestures of a man； and an
erect bearing which enables the most superficial observer to recognize
a military man even in plain clothes。 The habit of command produces
this result。 Ursula loved Savinien the better for it； and took a
childlike pleasure in walking round the garden with him； taking his
arm； and hearing him relate the part he played （as midshipman） in the
taking of Algiers。 Evidently Savinien had taken the city。 The doctor；
who had been watching them from his window as he dressed； soon came
down。 Without telling the viscount everything； he did say that； in
case Madame de Portenduere consented to his marriage with Ursula； the
fortune of his godchild would make his naval pay superfluous。
〃Alas！〃 said Savinien。 〃It will take a great deal of time to overcome
my mother's opposition。 Before I left her to enter the navy she was
placed between two alternatives；either to consent to my marrying
Ursula or else to see me only from time to time and to know me exposed
to the dangers of the profession； and you see she chose to let me go。〃
〃But； Savinien； we shall be together；〃 said Ursula； taking his hand
and shaking it with a sort of impatience。
To see each other and not to part；that was the all of love to her；
she saw nothing beyond it； and her pretty gesture and the petulant
tone of her voice expressed such innocence that Savinien and the
doctor were both moved by it。 The resignation was written and
despatched； and Ursula's fete received full glory from the presence of
her betrothed。 A few months later； towards the month of May； the home…
life of the doctor's household had resumed the quite tenor of its way
but with one welcome visitor the more。 The attentions of the young
viscount were soon interpreted in the town as those of a future
husband；all the more because his manners and those of Ursula；
whether in church； or on the promenade； though dignified and reserved；
betrayed the understanding of their hearts。 Dionis pointed out to the
heirs that the doctor had never asked Madame de Portenduere for the
interest of his money； three years of which was now due。
〃She'll be forced to yield； and consent to this derogatory marriage of
her son；〃 said the notary。 〃If such a misfortune happens it is
probable that the greater part of your uncle's fortune will serve for
what Basile calls 'an irresistible argument。'〃
CHAPTER XIV
URSULA AGAIN ORPHANED
The irritation of the heirs； when convinced that their uncle loved
Ursula too well not to secure her happiness at their expense； became
as underhand as it was bitter。 Meeting in Dionis's salon （as they had
done every evening since the revolution of 1830） they inveighed
against the lovers； and seldom separated without discussing some way
of circumventing the old man。 Zelie； who had doubtless profited by the
fall in the Funds； as the doctor had done； to invest some； at least；
of her enormous gains； was bitterest of them all against the orphan
girl and the Portendueres。 One evening； when Goupil； who usually
avoided the dullness of these meetings； had come in to learn something
of the affairs of the town which were under discussion； Zelie's hatred
was freshly excited； she had seen the doctor； Ursula； and Savinien
returning in the caleche from a country drive； with an air of intimacy
that told all。
〃I'd give thirty thousand francs if God would call uncle to himself
before the marriage of young Portenduere with that affected minx can
take place；〃 she said。
Goupil accompanied Monsieur and Madame Minoret to the middle of their
great courtyard； and there said； looking round to see if they were
quite alone：
〃Will you give me the means of buying Dionis's practice？ If you will；
I will break off the marriage between Portenduere and Ursula。〃
〃How？〃 asked the colossus。
〃Do you think I am such a fool as to tell you my plan？〃 said the
notary's head clerk。
〃Well； my lad； separate them； and we'll see what we can do；〃 said
Zelie。
〃I don't embark in any such business on a 'we'll see。' The young man
is a fire…eater who might kill me； I ought to be rough…shod and as
good a hand with a sword or a pistol as he is。 Set me up in business；
and I'll keep my word。〃
〃Prevent the marriage and I will set you up；〃 said the post master。
〃It is nine months since you have been thinking of lending me a paltry
fifteen thousand francs to buy Lecoeur's practice； and you expect me
to trust you now！ Nonsense； you'll lose your uncle's property； and
serve you right。〃
〃It if were only a matter of fifteen thousand francs and Lecoeur's
practice； that might be managed；〃 said Zelie； 〃but to give security
for you in a hundred and fifty thousand is another thing。〃
〃But I'll do my part；〃 said Goupil； flinging a seductive look at
Zelie； which encountered the imperious glance of the post mistress。
The effect was that of venom on steel。
〃We can wait；〃 said Zelie。
〃The devil's own spirit is in you；〃 thought Goupil。 〃If I ever catch
that pair in my power；〃 he said to himself as he left the yard； 〃I'll
squeeze them like lemons。〃
By cultivating the society of the doctor； the abbe； and Monsieur
Bongrand； Savinien proved the excellence of his character。 The love of
this young man for Ursula； so devoid of self…interest； and so
persistent； interested the three friends deeply； and they no