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notary as caretaker； and the woman was accepted。
When the heirs heard that their uncle and great…uncle Minoret was
really coming to live in Nemours； they were seized （in spite of the
political events which were just then weighing so heavily on Brie and
on the Gatinais） with a devouring curiosity； which was not surprising。
Was he rich？ Economical or spendthrift？ Would he leave a fine fortune
or nothing？ Was his property in annuities？ In the end they found out
what follows； but only by taking infinite pains and employing much
subterraneous spying。
After the death of his wife； Ursula Mirouet； and between the years
1789 and 1813； the doctor （who had been appointed consulting physician
to the Emperor in 1805） must have made a good deal of money； but no
one knew how much。 He lived simply； without other extravagancies than
a carriage by the year and a sumptuous apartment。 He received no
guests； and dined out almost every day。 His housekeeper； furious at
not being allowed to go with him to Nemours； told Zelie Levrault； the
post master's wife； that she knew the doctor had fourteen thousand
francs a year on the 〃grand…livre。〃 Now； after twenty years' exercise
of a profession which his position as head of a hospital； physician to
the Emperor； and member of the Institute； rendered lucrative； these
fourteen thousand francs a year showed only one hundred and sixty
thousand francs laid by。 To have saved only eight thousand francs a
year the doctor must have had either many vices or many virtues to
gratify。 But neither his housekeeper nor Zelie nor any one else could
discover the reason for such moderate means。 Minoret； who when he left
it was much regretted in the quarter of Paris where he had lived； was
one of the most benevolent of men； and； like Larrey； kept his kind
deeds a profound secret。
The heirs watched the arrival of their uncle's fine furniture and
large library with complacency； and looked forward to his own coming；
he being now an officer of the Legion of honor； and lately appointed
by the king a chevalier of the order of Saint…Michelperhaps on
account of his retirement； which left a vacancy for some favorite。 But
when the architect and painter and upholsterer had arranged everything
in the most comfortable manner； the doctor did not come。 Madame
Minoret…Levrault； who kept an eye on the upholsterer and architect as
if her own property was concerned； found out； through the indiscretion
of a young man sent to arrange the books； that the doctor was taking
care of a little orphan named Ursula。 The news flew like wild…fire
through the town。 At last； however； towards the middle of the month of
January； 1815； the old man actually arrived； installing himself
quietly； almost slyly； with a little girl about ten months old； and a
nurse。
〃The child can't be his daughter；〃 said the terrified heirs； 〃he is
seventy…one years old。〃
〃Whoever she is；〃 remarked Madame Massin； 〃she'll give us plenty of
tintouin〃 （a word peculiar to Nemours； meaning uneasiness； anxiety； or
more literally； tingling in the ears）。
The doctor received his great…niece on the mother's side somewhat
coldly； her husband had just bought the place of clerk of the court；
and the pair began at once to tell him of their difficulties。 Neither
Massin nor his wife were rich。 Massin's father； a locksmith at
Montargis； had been obliged to compromise with his creditors； and was
now； at sixty…seven years of age； working like a young man； and had
nothing to leave behind him。 Madame Massin's father； Levrault…Minoret；
had just died at Montereau after the battle； in despair at seeing his
farm burned； his fields ruined； his cattle slaughtered。
〃We'll get nothing out of your great…uncle；〃 said Massin to his wife；
now pregnant with her second child； after the interview。
The doctor； however； gave them privately ten thousand francs； with
which Massin； who was a great friend of the notary and of the sheriff；
began the business of money…lending； and carried matters so briskly
with the peasantry that by the time of which we are now writing Goupil
knew him to hold at least eighty thousand francs on their property。
As to his other niece； the doctor obtained for her husband； through
his influence in Paris； the collectorship of Nemours； and became his
bondsman。 Though Minoret…Levrault needed no assistance； Zelie； his
wife； being jealous of the uncle's liberality to his two nieces； took
her ten…year old son to see him； and talked of the expense he would be
to them at a school in Paris； where； she said； education costs so
much。 The doctor obtained a half…scholarship for his great…nephew at
the school of Louis…le…Grand； where Desire was put into the fourth
class。
Cremiere； Massin； and Minoret…Levrault； extremely common persons； were
〃rated without appeal〃 by the doctor within two months of his arrival
in Nemours； during which time they courted； less their uncle than his
property。 Persons who are led by instinct have one great disadvantage
against others with ideas。 They are quickly found out； the suggestions
of instinct are too natural； too open to the eye not to be seen at a
glance； whereas； the conceptions of the mind require an equal amount
of intellect to discover them。 After buying the gratitude of his
heirs； and thus； as it were； shutting their mouths； the wily doctor
made a pretext of his occupations； his habits； and the care of the
little Ursula to avoid receiving his relatives without exactly closing
his doors to them。 He liked to dine alone； he went to bed late and he
got up late； he had returned to his native place for the very purpose
of finding rest in solitude。 These whims of an old man seemed to be
natural； and his relatives contented themselves with paying him weekly
visits on Sundays from one to four o'clock； to which； however； he
tried to put a stop by saying： 〃Don't come and see me unless you want
something。〃
The doctor； while not refusing to be called in consultation over
serious cases； especially if the patients were indigent； would not
serve as a physician in the little hospital of Nemours； and declared
that he no longer practiced his profession。
〃I've killed enough people；〃 he said； laughing； to the Abbe Chaperon；
who； knowing his benevolence； would often get him to attend the poor。
〃He's an original！〃 These words； said of Doctor Minoret； were the
harmless revenge of various wounded vanities； for a doctor collects
about him a society of persons who have many of the characteristics of
a set of heirs。 Those of the bourgeoisie who thought themselves
entitled to visit this distinguished physician kept up a ferment of
jealousy against the few privileged friends whom he did admit to his
intimacy； which had in the long run some unfortunate results。
CHAPTER III
THE DOCTOR'S FRIENDS
Curiously enough； though it explains the old proverb that 〃extremes
meet；〃 the materialistic doctor and the cure of Nemours were soon
friends。 The old man loved backgammon； a favorite game of the
priesthood； and the Abbe Chaperon played it with about as much skill
as he himself。 The game was the first tie between them。 Then Minoret
was charitable； and the abbe was the Fenelon of the Gatinais。 Both had
had a wide and varied education； the man of God was the only person in
all Nemours who was fully capable of understanding the atheist。 To be
able to argue； men must first understand each other。 What pleasure is
there in saying sharp words to one who can't feel them？ The doctor and
the priest had far too much taste and had seen too much of good
society not to practice its precepts； they were thus well…fitted for
the little warfare so essential to conversation。 They hated each
other's opinions； but they valued each other's character。 If such
conflicts and such sympathies are not true elements of intimacy we
must surely despair of society； which； especially in France； requires
some form of antagonism。 It is from the shock of characters； and not
from the struggle of opinions； that antipathies are generated。
The Abbe Chaperon became； therefore； the doctor's chief friend。 This
excellent ecclesiastic； then sixty years of age； had been curate of
Nemours ever since the re…establishment of Catholic worship。 Out of
attachment to his flock he had refused the vicariat of the diocese。 If
those who were indifferent to religion thought well of him for so
doing； the faithful loved him the more for it。 So； revered by his
sheep； respected by the inhabitants at large； the abbe did good
without inquiring into the religious opinions of those he benefited。
His parsonage； with scarcely furniture enough for the common needs of
life； was cold and shabby； like the lodging of a miser。 Charity and
avarice manifest themselves in the same way； charity lays up a
treasure in heaven which avarice lays up on earth。 The Abbe Chaperon
argued with his servant over expenses even more shar