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occasions Zelie sent to Paris for delicaciesobliging Dionis the
notary to emulate her display。 Goupil； whom the Minorets endeavored to
ignore as a questionable person who might tarnish their splendor； was
not invited until the end of July。 The clerk； who was fully aware of
this intended neglect； was forced to be respectful to Desire； who；
since his entrance into office； had assumed a haughty and dignified
air； even in his own family。
〃You must have forgotten Esther；〃 Goupil said to him； 〃as you are so
much in love with Mademoiselle Mirouet。〃
〃In the first place； Esther is dead； monsieur； and in the next I have
never even thought of Ursula；〃 said the new magistrate。
〃Why； what did you tell me； papa Minoret？〃 cried Goupil； insolently。
Minoret； caught in a lie by a man whom he feared； would have lost
countenance if it had not been for a project in his head； which was；
in fact； the reason why Goupil was invited to dinner；Minoret having
remembered the proposition the clerk had once made to prevent the
marriage between Savinien and Ursula。 For all answer； he led Goupil
hurriedly to the end of the garden。
〃You'll soon be twenty…eight years old； my good fellow；〃 said he； 〃and
I don't see that you are on the road to fortune。 I wish you well； for
after all you were once my son's companion。 Listen to me。 If you can
persuade that little Mirouet； who possesses in her own right forty
thousand francs； to marry you； I will give you； as true as my name is
Minoret； the means to buy a notary's practice at Orleans。〃
〃No；〃 said Goupil； 〃that's too far out of the way； but Montargis〃
〃No；〃 said Minoret； 〃Sens。〃
〃Very good；Sens；〃 replied the hideous clerk。 〃There's an archbishop
at Sens； and I don't object to devotion； a little hypocrisy and there
you are； on the way to fortune。 Besides； the girl is pious； and she'll
succeed at Sens。〃
〃It is to be fully understood；〃 continued Minoret； 〃that I shall not
pay the money till you marry my cousin； for whom I wish to provide；
out of consideration for my deceased uncle。〃
〃Why not for me too？〃 said Goupil maliciously； instantly suspecting a
secret motive in Minoret's conduct。 〃Isn't it through information you
got from me that you make twenty…four thousand a year from that land；
without a single enclosure； around the Chateau du Rouvre？ The fields
and the mill the other side of the Loing make sixteen thousand more。
Come； old fellow； do you mean to play fair with me？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃If I wanted to show my teeth I could coax Massin to buy the Rouvre
estate； park； gardens； preserves； and timber〃
〃You'd better think twice before you do that；〃 said Zelie； suddenly
intervening。
〃If I choose；〃 said Goupil； giving her a viperish look； 〃Massin would
buy the whole for two hundred thousand francs。〃
〃Leave us； wife；〃 said the colossus； taking Zelie by the arm； and
shoving her away； 〃I understand him。 We have been so very busy；〃 he
continued； returning to Goupil； 〃that we have had no time to think of
you； but I rely on your friendship to buy the Rouvre estate for me。〃
〃It is a very ancient marquisate；〃 said Goupil； maliciously； 〃which
will soon be worth in your hands fifty thousand francs a year； that
means a capital of more than two millions as money is now。〃
〃My son could then marry the daughter of a marshal of France； or the
daughter of some old family whose influence would get him a fine place
under the government in Paris；〃 said Minoret； opening his huge snuff…
box and offering a pinch to Goupil。
〃Very good； but will you play fair？〃 cried Goupil； shaking his
fingers。
Minoret pressed the clerk's hands replying：
〃On my word of honor。〃
CHAPTER XVII
THE MALIGNITY OF PROVINCIAL MINDS
Like all crafty persons； Goupil； fortunately for Minoret； believed
that the proposed marriage with Ursula was only a pretext on the part
of the colossus and Zelie for making up with him； now that he was
opposing them with Massin。
〃It isn't he；〃 thought Goupil； 〃who has invented this scheme； I know
my Zelie；she taught him his part。 Bah！ I'll let Massin go。 In three
years time I'll be deputy from Sens。〃 Just then he saw Bongrand on his
way to the opposite house for his whist； and he rushed hastily after
him。
〃You take a great interest in Mademoiselle Mirouet； my dear Monsieur
Bongrand；〃 he said。 〃I know you will not be indifferent to her future。
Her relations are considering it； and there is the programme； she
ought to marry a notary whose practice should be in the chief town of
an arrondisement。 This notary； who would of course be elected deputy
in three years； should settle on a dower of a hundred thousand francs
on her。〃
〃She can do better than that；〃 said Bongrand coldly。 〃Madame de
Portenduere is greatly changed since her misfortunes； trouble is
killing her。 Savinien will have six thousand francs a year； and Ursula
has a capital of forty thousand。 I shall show them how to increase it
a la Massin； but honestly； and in ten years they will have a little
fortune。
〃Savinien will do a foolish thing；〃 said Goupil； 〃he can marry
Mademoiselle du Rouvre whenever he likes；an only daughter to whom
the uncle and aunt intend to leave a fine property。〃
〃Where love enters farewell prudence； as La Fontaine says By the
bye； who is your notary？〃 added Bongrand from curiosity。
〃Suppose it were I？〃 answered Goupil。
〃You！〃 exclaimed Bongrand； without hiding his disgust。
〃Well； well！Adieu； monsieur；〃 replied Goupil； with a parting glance
of gall and hatred and defiance。
〃Do you wish to be the wife of a notary who will settle a hundred
thousand francs on you？〃 cried Bongrand entering Madame de
Portenduere's little salon； where Ursula was seated beside the old
lady。
Ursula and Savinien trembled and looked at each other；she smiling；
he not daring to show his uneasiness。
〃I am not mistress of myself；〃 said Ursula； holding out her hand to
Savinien in such a way that the old lady did not perceive the gesture。
〃Well； I have refused the offer without consulting you。〃
〃Why did you do that？〃 said Madame de Portenduere。 〃I think the
position of a notary is a very good one。〃
〃I prefer my peaceful poverty；〃 said Ursula； 〃which is really wealth
compared with what my station in life might have given me。 Besides； my
old nurse spares me a great deal of care； and I shall not exchange the
present； which I like； for an unknown fate。〃
A few weeks later the post poured into two hearts the poison of
anonymous letters；one addressed to Madame de Portenduere； the other
to Ursula。 The following is the one to the old lady：
〃You love your son； you wish to marry him in a manner conformable
with the name he bears； and yet you encourage his fancy for an
ambitious girl without money and the daughter of a regimental band…
master； by inviting her to your house。 You ought to marry him to
Mademoiselle du Rouvre； on whom her two uncles； the Marquis de
Ronquerolles and the Chevalier du Rouvre； who are worth money； would
settle a handsome sum rather than leave it to that old fool the
Marquis du Rouvre； who runs through everything。 Madame de Serizy；
aunt of Clementine du Rouvre； who has just lost her only son in the
campaign in Algiers； will no doubt adopt her niece。 A person who is
your well…wisher assures you that Savinien will be accepted。〃
The letter to Ursula was as follows：
Dear Ursula；There is a young man in Nemours who idolizes you。 He
cannot see you working at your window without emotions which prove
to him that his love will last through life。 This young man is
gifted with an iron will and a spirit of perseverance which
nothing can discourage。 Receive his addresses favorably； for his
intentions are pure； and he humbly asks your hand with a sincere
desire to make you happy。 His fortune； already suitable； is
nothing to that which he will make for you when you are once his
wife。 You shall be received at court as the wife of a minister and
one of the first ladies in the land。
As he sees you every day （without your being able to see him） put
a pot of La Bougival's pinks in your window and he will understand
from that that he has your permission to present himself。
Ursula burned the letter and said nothing about it to Savinien。 Two
days later she received another letter in the following language：
〃You do wrong； my dear Ursula； not to answer one who loves you
better than life itself。 You think you will marry Savinienyou
are very much mistaken。 That marriage will not take place。 Madame
de Portenduere went this morning to Rouvre to ask for the hand of
Mademoiselle Clementine for her son。 Savinien will yield in the
end。 What objection can he make？ The uncles of the young lady are
willing to guarantee their fortune to her； it amounts to over
sixty t