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villa； Monsieur Vilquin； and here is the why and the wherefore。 The
original creator of the villa； whose sumptuous details cry aloud；
〃Behold our millions！〃 extended his park far into the country for the
purpose； as he averred； of getting his gardeners out of his pockets；
and so； when the Chalet was finished； none but a friend could be
allowed to inhabit it。 Monsieur Mignon； the next owner of the
property； was very much attached to his cashier； Dumay； and the
following history will prove that the attachment was mutual； to him
therefore he offered the little dwelling。 Dumay； a stickler for legal
methods； insisted on signing a lease for three hundred francs for
twelve years； and Monsieur Mignon willingly agreed； remarking；
〃My dear Dumay； remember； you have now bound yourself to live with me
for twelve years。〃
In consequence of certain events which will presently be related； the
estates of Monsieur Mignon； formerly the richest merchant in Havre；
were sold to Vilquin； one of his business competitors。 In his joy at
getting possession of the celebrated villa Mignon； the latter forgot
to demand the cancelling of the lease。 Dumay； anxious not to hinder
the sale； would have signed anything Vilquin required； but the sale
once made； he held to his lease like a vengeance。 And there he
remained； in Vilquin's pocket as it were； at the heart of Vilquin's
family life； observing Vilquin； irritating Vilquin；in short； the
gadfly of all the Vilquins。 Every morning； when he looked out of his
window； Vilquin felt a violent shock of annoyance as his eye lighted
on the little gem of a building； the Chalet； which had cost sixty
thousand francs and sparkled like a ruby in the sun。 That comparison
is very nearly exact。 The architect has constructed the cottage of
brilliant red brick pointed with white。 The window…frames are painted
of a lively green； the woodwork is brown verging on yellow。 The roof
overhangs by several feet。 A pretty gallery； with open…worked
balustrade； surmounts the lower floor and projects at the centre of
the facade into a veranda with glass sides。 The ground…floor has a
charming salon and a dining…room； separated from each other by the
landing of a staircase built of wood； designed and decorated with
elegant simplicity。 The kitchen is behind the dining…room； and the
corresponding room back of the salon； formerly a study； is now the
bedroom of Monsieur and Madame Dumay。 On the upper floor the architect
has managed to get two large bedrooms； each with a dressing…room； to
which the veranda serves as a salon； and above this floor； under the
eaves； which are tipped together like a couple of cards； are two
servants' rooms with mansard roofs； each lighted by a circular window
and tolerably spacious。
Vilquin has been petty enough to build a high wall on the side toward
the orchard and kitchen garden； and in consequence of this piece of
spite； the few square feet which the lease secured to the Chalet
resembled a Parisian garden。 The out…buildings； painted in keeping
with the cottage； stood with their backs to the wall of the adjoining
property。
The interior of this charming dwelling harmonized with its exterior。
The salon； floored entirely with iron…wood； was painted in a style
that suggested the beauties of Chinese lacquer。 On black panels edged
with gold； birds of every color； foliage of impossible greens； and
fantastic oriental designs glowed and shimmered。 The dining…room was
entirely sheathed in Northern woods carved and cut in open…work like
the beautiful Russian chalets。 The little antechamber formed by the
landing and the well of the staircase was painted in old oak to
represent Gothic ornament。 The bedrooms； hung with chintz； were
charming in their costly simplicity。 The study； where the cashier and
his wife now slept； was panelled from top to bottom； on the walls and
ceiling； like the cabin of a steamboat。 These luxuries of his
predecessor excited Vilquin's wrath。 He would fain have lodged his
daughter and her husband in the cottage。 This desire； well known to
Dumay； will presently serve to illustrate the Breton obstinacy of the
latter。
The entrance to the Chalet is by a little trellised iron door； the
uprights of which； ending in lance…heads； show for a few inches above
the fence and its hedge。 The little garden； about as wide as the more
pretentious lawn； was just now filled with flowers； roses； and dahlias
of the choicest kind； and many rare products of the hot…houses； for
（another Vilquinard grievance） the elegant little hot…house； a very
whim of a hot…house； a hot…house representing dignity and style；
belonged to the Chalet； and separated； or if you prefer； united it to
the villa Vilquin。 Dumay consoled himself for the toils of business in
taking care of this hot…house； whose exotic treasures were one of
Modeste's joys。 The billiard…room of the villa Vilquin； a species of
gallery； formerly communicated through an immense aviary with this
hot…house。 But after the building of the wall which deprived him of a
view into the orchards； Dumay bricked up the door of communication。
〃Wall for wall！〃 he said。
In 1827 Vilquin offered Dumay a salary of six thousand francs； and ten
thousand more as indemnity； if he would give up the lease。 The cashier
refused； though he had but three thousand francs from Gobenheim； a
former clerk of his master。 Dumay was a Breton transplanted by fate
into Normandy。 Imagine therefore the hatred conceived for the tenants
of the Chalet by the Norman Vilquin； a man worth three millions！ What
criminal leze…million on the part of a cashier； to hold up to the eyes
of such a man the impotence of his wealth！ Vilquin； whose desperation
in the matter made him the talk of Havre； had just proposed to give
Dumay a pretty house of his own； and had again been refused。 Havre
itself began to grow uneasy at the man's obstinacy； and a good many
persons explained it by the phrase； 〃Dumay is a Breton。〃 As for the
cashier； he thought Madame and Mademoiselle Mignon would be ill…lodged
elsewhere。 His two idols now inhabited a temple worthy of them； the
sumptuous little cottage gave them a home； where these dethroned
royalties could keep the semblance of majesty about them；a species
of dignity usually denied to those who have seen better days。
Perhaps as the story goes on； the reader will not regret having
learned in advance a few particulars as to the home and the habitual
companions of Modeste Mignon； for； at her age； people and things have
as much influence upon the future life as a person's own character；
indeed； character often receives ineffaceable impressions from its
surroundings。
CHAPTER II
A PORTRAIT FROM LIFE
From the manner with which the Latournelles entered the Chalet a
stranger would readily have guessed that they came there every
evening。
〃Ah； you are here already；〃 said the notary； perceiving the young
banker Gobenheim； a connection of Gobenheim…