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〃If that is so；〃 said Solonet； 〃tell me what are the utmost
concessions you are willing to make。〃
〃I wish to make as few as possible；〃 she answered； laughing。
〃A woman's answer；〃 cried Solonet。 〃Madame； are you anxious to marry
Mademoiselle Natalie？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And you want a receipt for the eleven hundred and fifty…six thousand
francs； for which you are responsible on the guardianship account
which the law obliges you to render to your son…in…law？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃How much do you want to keep back？〃
〃Thirty thousand a year； at least。〃
〃It is a question of conquer or die； is it？〃
〃It is。〃
〃Well； then； I must reflect on the necessary means to that end； it
will need all our cleverness to manage our forces。 I will give you
some instructions on my arrival this evening； follow them carefully；
and I think I may promise you a successful issue。 Is the Comte de
Manerville in love with Mademoiselle Natalie？〃 he asked as he rose to
take leave。
〃He adores her。〃
〃That is not enough。 Does he desire her to the point of disregarding
all pecuniary difficulties？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃That's what I call having a lien upon a daughter's property；〃 cried
the notary。 〃Make her look her best to…night；〃 he added with a sly
glance。
〃She has a most charming dress for the occasion。〃
〃The marriage…contract dress is； in my opinion； half the battle；〃 said
Solonet。
This last argument seemed so cogent to Madame Evangelista that she
superintended Natalie's toilet herself； as much perhaps to watch her
daughter as to make her the innocent accomplice of her financial
conspiracy。
With her hair dressed a la Sevigne and wearing a gown of white tulle
adorned with pink ribbons； Natalie seemed to her mother so beautiful
as to guarantee victory。 When the lady's…maid left the room and Madame
Evangelista was certain that no one could overhear her； she arranged a
few curls on her daughter's head by way of exordium。
〃Dear child；〃 she said； in a voice that was firm apparently； 〃do you
sincerely love the Comte de Manerville？〃
Mother and daughter cast strange looks at each other。
〃Why do you ask that question； little mother？ and to…day more than
yesterday》 Why have you thrown me with him？〃
〃If you and I had to part forever would you still persist in the
marriage？〃
〃I should give it upand I should not die of grief。〃
〃You do not love him； my dear；〃 said the mother； kissing her
daughter's forehead。
〃But why； my dear mother； are you playing the Grand Inquisitor？〃
〃I wished to know if you desired the marriage without being madly in
love with the husband。〃
〃I love him。〃
〃And you are right。 He is a count； we will make him a peer of France
between us； nevertheless； there are certain difficulties。〃
〃Difficulties between persons who love each other？ Oh； no。 The heart
of the Pink of Fashion is too firmly planted here；〃 she said； with a
pretty gesture； 〃to make the very slightest objection。 I am sure of
that。〃
〃But suppose it were otherwise？〃 persisted Madame Evangelista。
〃He would be profoundly and forever forgotten；〃 replied Natalie。
〃Good！ You are a Casa…Reale。 But suppose； though he madly loves you；
suppose certain discussions and difficulties should arise； not of his
own making； but which he must decide in your interests as well as in
minehey； Natalie； what then？ Without lowering your dignity； perhaps
a little softness in your manner might decide hima word； a tone； a
mere nothing。 Men are so made； they resist a serious argument； but
they yield to a tender look。〃
〃I understand！ a little touch to make my Favori leap the barrier；〃
said Natalie； making the gesture of striking a horse with her whip。
〃My darling！ I ask nothing that resembles seduction。 You and I have
sentiments of the old Castilian honor which will never permit us to
pass certain limits。 Count Paul shall know our situation。〃
〃What situation？〃
〃You would not understand it。 But I tell you now that if after seeing
you in all your glory his look betrays the slightest hesitation；and
I shall watch him；on that instant I shall break off the marriage； I
will liquidate my property； leave Bordeaux； and go to Douai； to be
near the Claes。 Madame Claes is our relation through the Temnincks。
Then I'll marry you to a peer of France； and take refuge in a convent
myself； that I may give up to you my whole fortune。〃
〃Mother； what am I to do to prevent such misfortunes？〃 cried Natalie。
〃I have never seen you so beautiful as you are now；〃 replied her
mother。 〃Be a little coquettish； and all is well。〃
Madame Evangelista left Natalie to her thoughts； and went to arrange
her own toilet in such a way that would bear comparison with that of
her daughter。 If Natalie ought to make herself attractive to Paul she
ought； none the less； to inflame the ardor of her champion Solonet。
The mother and daughter were therefore under arms when Paul arrived；
bearing the bouquet which for the last few months he had daily offered
to his love。 All three conversed pleasantly while awaiting the arrival
of the notaries。
This day brought to Paul the first skirmish of that long and wearisome
warfare called marriage。 It is therefore necessary to state the forces
on both sides； the position of the belligerent bodies； and the ground
on which they are about to manoeuvre。
To maintain a struggle； the importance of which had wholly escaped
him； Paul's only auxiliary was the old notary； Mathias。 Both were
about to be confronted； unaware and defenceless； by a most unexpected
circumstance； to be pressed by an enemy whose strategy was planned；
and driven to decide on a course without having time to reflect upon
it。 Where is the man who would not have succumbed； even though
assisted by Cujas and Barthole？ How should he look for deceit and
treachery where all seemed compliant and natural？ What could old
Mathias do alone against Madame Evangelista； against Solonet； against
Natalie； especially when a client in love goes over to the enemy as
soon as the rising conflict threatens his happiness？ Already Paul was
damaging his cause by making the customary lover's speeches； to which
his passion gave excessive value in the ears of Madame Evangelista；
whose object it was to drive him to commit himself。
The matrimonial condottieri now about to fight for their clients；
whose personal powers were to be so vitally important in this solemn
encounter； the two notaries； on short； represent individually the old
and the new systems；old fashioned notarial usage； and the new…
fangled modern procedure。
Maitre Mathias was a worthy old gentleman sixty…nine years of age； who
took great pride in his forty years' exercise of the profession。 His
huge gouty feet were encased in shoes with silver buckles； making a
ridiculous termination to legs so spindling； with knees so bony； that
when he crossed them they made y