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began。 So dear to her was it that even in this hour of darkest grief
tears of regret rolled down her face for the dear and peaceful haven。
With one last glance at Savinien's windows she left the room and the
house； and went to the inn accompanied by La Bougival； who carried the
package； by Monsieur Bongrand； who gave her his arm； and by Savinien；
her true protector。
Thus it happened that in spite of all his efforts and cautions the
worst fears of the justice of peace were realized； he was now to see
Ursula without means and at the mercy of her benefactor's heirs。
The next afternoon the whole town attended the doctor's funeral。 When
the conduct of the heirs to his adopted daughter was publicly known； a
vast majority of the people thought it natural and necessary。 An
inheritance was involved； the good man was known to have hoarded；
Ursula might think she had rights； the heirs were only defending their
property； she had humbled them enough during their uncle's lifetime；
for he had treated them like dogs and sent them about their business。
Desire Minoret； who was not going to do wonders in life （so said those
who envied his father）； came down for the funeral。 Ursula was unable
to be present； for she was in bed with a nervous fever； caused partly
by the insults of the heirs and partly by her heavy affliction。
〃Look at that hypocrite weeping；〃 said some of the heirs； pointing to
Savinien； who was deeply affected by the doctor's death。
〃The question is；〃 said Goupil； 〃has he any good grounds for weeping。
Don't laugh too soon； my friends； the seals are not yet removed。〃
〃Pooh！〃 said Minoret； who had good reason to know the truth； 〃you are
always frightening us about nothing。〃
As the funeral procession left the church to proceed to the cemetery；
a bitter mortification was inflicted on Goupil； he tried to take
Desire's arm； but the latter withdrew it and turned away from his
former comrade in presence of all Nemours。
〃I won't be angry； or I couldn't get revenge；〃 thought the notary's
clerk； whose dry heart swelled in his bosom like a sponge。
Before breaking the seals and making the inventory； it took some time
for the procureur du roi； who is the legal guardian of orphans； to
commission Monsieur Bongrand to act in his place。 After that was done
the settlement of the Minoret inheritance （nothing else being talked
of in the town for ten days） began with all the legal formalities。
Dionis had his pickings； Goupil enjoyed some mischief…making； and as
the business was profitable the sessions were many。 After the first of
these sessions all parties breakfasted together； notary； clerk； heirs；
and witnesses drank the best wines in the doctor's cellar。
In the provinces； and especially in little towns where every one lives
in his own house； it is sometimes very difficult to find a lodging。
When a man buys a business of any kind the dwelling…house is almost
always included in the purchase。 Monsieur Bongrand saw no other way of
removing Ursula from the village inn than to buy a small house on the
Grand'Rue at the corner of the bridge over the Loing。 The little
building had a front door opening on a corridor； and one room on the
ground…floor with two windows on the street； behind this came the
kitchen； with a glass door opening to an inner courtyard about thirty
feet square。 A small staircase； lighted on the side towards the river
by small windows； led to the first floor where there were three
chambers； and above these were two attic rooms。 Monsieur Bongrand
borrowed two thousand francs from La Bougival's savings to pay the
first instalment of the price；six thousand francs；and obtained
good terms for payment of the rest。 As Ursula wished to buy her
uncle's books； Bongrand knocked down the partition between two rooms
on the bedroom floor； finding that their united length was the same as
that of the doctor's library； and gave room for his bookshelves。
Savinien and Bongrand urged on the workmen who were cleaning；
painting； and otherwise renewing the tiny place； so that before the
end of March Ursula was able to leave the inn and take up her abode in
the ugly house； where； however； she found a bedroom exactly like the
one she had left； for it was filled with all her furniture； claimed by
the justice of peace when the seals were removed。 La Bougival；
sleeping in the attic； could be summoned by a bell placed near the
head of the young girl's bed。 The room intended for the books； the
salon on the ground…floor and the kitchen； though still unfurnished；
had been hung with fresh papers and repainted； and only awaited the
purchases which the young girl hoped to make when her godfather's
effects were sold。
Though the strength of Ursula's character was well known to the abbe
and Monsieur Bongrand； they both feared the sudden change from the
comfort and elegancies to which her uncle had accustomed her to this
barren and denuded life。 As for Savinien he wept over it。 He did； in
fact； make private payments to the workman and to the upholsterer； so
that Ursula should perceive no difference between the new chamber and
the old one。 But the young girl herself； whose happiness now lay in
Savinien's own eyes； showed the gentlest resignation； which endeared
her more and more to her two old friends； and proved to them for the
hundredth time that no troubles but those of the heart could make her
suffer。 The grief she felt for the loss of her godfather was far too
deep to let her even feel the bitterness of her change of fortune；
though it added fresh obstacles to her marriage。 Savinien's distress
in seeing her thus reduced did her so much harm that she whispered to
him； as they came from mass on the morning on the day when she first
went to live in her new house：
〃Love could not exist without patience； let us wait。〃
As soon as the form of the inventory was drawn up； Massin； advised by
Goupil （who turned to him under the influence of his secret hatred to
the post master）； summoned Monsieur and Madame de Portenduere to pay
off the mortgage which had now elapsed； together with the interest
accruing thereon。 The old lady was bewildered at a summons to pay one
hundred and twenty…nine thousand five hundred and seventeen francs
within twenty…four hours under pain of execution on her house。 It was
impossible for her to borrow the money。 Savinien went to
Fontainebleau to consult a lawyer。
〃You are dealing with a bad set of people who will not compromise；〃
was the lawyer's opinion。 〃They intend to sue in the matter and get
your farm at Bordieres。 The best way for you would be to make a
voluntary sale of it and so escape costs。〃
This dreadful news broke down the old lady。 Her son very gently
pointed out to her that had she consented to his marriage in Minoret's
life…time； the doctor would have left his property to Ursula's husband
and they would to…day have been opulent instead of being； as they now
were； in the depths of poverty。 Though said without reproach； this
argument annihilated the poor woman even more than the thought of her
coming ejectment。 When Ursula heard of this catastrophe she was
stupefied with grief； having scarcely recovered from her fever； and
the blow which the heirs had already dealt her。 To love and be unable
to succor the man she loves；that is one of the most dreadful of all
sufferings to the soul of a noble and sensitive woman。
〃I wished to buy my uncle's house；〃 she said； 〃now I will buy your
mother's。〃
〃Can you？〃 said Savinien。 〃You are a minor； and you cannot sell out
your Funds without formalities to which the procureur du roi； now your
legal guardian； would not agree。 We shall not resist。 The whole town
will be glad to see the discomfiture of a noble family。 These
bourgeois are like hounds after a quarry。 Fortunately； I still have
ten thousand francs left； on which I can support my mother till this
deplorable matter is settled。 Besides； the inventory of your
godfather's property is not yet finished； Monsieur Bongrand still
thinks he shall find something for you。 He is as much astonished as I
am that you seem to be left without fortune。 The doctor so often spoke
both to him and to me of the future he had prepared for you that
neither of us can understand this conclusion。〃
〃Pooh！〃 she said； 〃so long as I can buy my godfather's books and
furniture and prevent their being dispersed； I am content。〃
〃But who knows the price these infamous creatures will set on anything
you want？〃
Nothing was talked of from Montargis to Fontainebleau but the million
for which the Minoret heirs were searching。 But the most minute search
made in every corner of the house after the seals were removed；
brought no discovery。 The one hundred and twenty…nine thousand francs
of the Portenduere debt； the capital of the fifteen thousand a year in
the three per cents （then quoted at 76）； the house； valued at forty
tho