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ridiculous termination to legs so spindling； with knees so bony； that
when he crossed them they made you think of the emblems on a
tombstone。 His puny little thighs； lost in a pair of wide black
breeches fastened with buckles； seemed to bend beneath the weight of a
round stomach and a torso developed； like that of most sedentary
persons； into a stout barrel； always buttoned into a green coat with
square tails； which no man could remember to have ever seen new。 His
hair； well brushed and powdered； was tied in a rat's tail that lay
between the collar of his coat and that of his waistcoat； which was
white； with a pattern of flowers。 With his round head； his face the
color of a vine…leaf； his blue eyes； a trumpet nose； a thick…lipped
mouth； and a double…chin； the dear old fellow excited； whenever he
appeared among strangers who did not know him； that satirical laugh
which Frenchmen so generously bestow on the ludicrous creations Dame
Nature occasionally allows herself； which Art delights in exaggerating
under the name of caricatures。
But in Maitre Mathias； mind had triumphed over form； the qualities of
his soul had vanquished the oddities of his body。 The inhabitants of
Bordeaux； as a rule； testified a friendly respect and a deference that
was full of esteem for him。 The old man's voice went to their hearts
and sounded there with the eloquence of uprightness。 His craft
consisted in going straight to the fact； overturning all subterfuge
and evil devices by plain questionings。 His quick perception； his long
training in his profession gave him that divining sense which goes to
the depths of conscience and reads its secret thoughts。 Though grave
and deliberate in business； the patriarch could be gay with the gaiety
of our ancestors。 He could risk a song after dinner； enjoy all family
festivities； celebrate the birthdays of grandmothers and children； and
bury with due solemnity the Christmas log。 He loved to send presents
at New Year； and eggs at Easter； he believed in the duties of a
godfather； and never deserted the customs which colored the life of
the olden time。 Maitre Mathias was a noble and venerable relic of the
notaries； obscure great men； who gave no receipt for the millions
entrusted to them； but returned those millions in the sacks they were
delivered in； tied with the same twine； men who fulfilled their trusts
to the letter； drew honest inventories； took fatherly interest in
their clients； often barring the way to extravagance and dissipation；
men to whom families confided their secrets； and who felt so
responsible for any error in their deeds that they meditated long and
carefully over them。 Never during his whole notarial life； had any
client found reason to complain of a bad investment or an ill…placed
mortgage。 His own fortune； slowly but honorably acquired； had come to
him as the result of a thirty years' practice and careful economy。 He
had established in life fourteen of his clerks。 Religious； and
generous in secret； Mathias was found whenever good was to be done
without remuneration。 An active member on hospital and other
benevolent committees； he subscribed the largest sums to relieve all
sudden misfortunes and emergencies； as well as to create certain
useful permanent institutions； consequently； neither he nor his wife
kept a carriage。 Also his word was felt to be sacred； and his coffers
held as much of the money of others as a bank； and also； we may add；
he went by the name of 〃Our good Monsieur Mathias；〃 and when he died；
three thousand persons followed him to his grave。
Solonet was the style of young notary who comes in humming a tune；
affects light…heartedness； declares that business is better done with
a laugh than seriously。 He is the notary captain of the national
guard； who dislikes to be taken for a notary； solicits the cross of
the Legion of honor； keeps his cabriolet； and leaves the verification
of his deeds to his clerks； he is the notary who goes to balls and
theatres； buys pictures and plays at ecarte； he has coffers in which
gold is received on deposit and is later returned in bank…bills；a
notary who follows his epoch； risks capital in doubtful investments；
speculates with all he can lay his hands on； and expects to retire
with an income of thirty thousand francs after ten years' practice； in
short； the notary whose cleverness comes of his duplicity； whom many
men fear as an accomplice possessing their secrets； and who sees in
his practice a means of ultimately marrying some blue…stockinged
heiress。
When the slender； fair…haired Solonet； curled； perfumed； and booted
like the leading gentleman at the Vaudeville； and dressed like a dandy
whose most important business is a duel； entered Madame Evangelista's
salon； preceding his brother notary； whose advance was delayed by a
twinge of the gout； the two men presented to the life one of those
famous caricatures entitled 〃Former Times and the Present Day；〃 which
had such eminent success under the Empire。 If Madame and Mademoiselle
Evangelista to whom the 〃good Monsieur Mathias；〃 was personally
unknown； felt； on first seeing him； a slight inclination to laugh；
they were soon touched by the old…fashioned grace with which he
greeted them。 The words he used were full of that amenity which
amiable old men convey as much by the ideas they suggest as by the
manner in which they express them。 The younger notary； with his
flippant tone； seemed on a lower plane。 Mathias showed his superior
knowledge of life by the reserved manner with which he accosted Paul。
Without compromising his white hairs； he showed that he respected the
young man's nobility； while at the same time he claimed the honor due
to old age； and made it felt that social rights are natural。 Solonet's
bow and greeting； on the contrary； expressed a sense of perfect
equality； which would naturally affront the pretensions of a man of
society and make the notary ridiculous in the eyes of a real noble。
Solonet made a motion； somewhat too familiar； to Madame Evangelista；
inviting her to a private conference in the recess of a window。 For
some minutes they talked to each other in a low voice； giving way now
and then to laughter；no doubt to lessen in the minds of others the
importance of the conversation； in which Solonet was really
communicating to his sovereign lady the plan of battle。
〃But；〃 he said； as he ended； 〃will you have the courage to sell your
house？〃
〃Undoubtedly；〃 she replied。
Madame Evangelista did not choose to tell her notary the motive of
this heroism； which struck him greatly。 Solonet's zeal might have
cooled had he known that his client was really intending to leave
Bordeaux。 She had not as yet said anything about that intention to
Paul； in order not to alarm him with the preliminary steps and
circumlocutions which must be taken before he entered on the political
life she planned for him。
After dinner the two plenipotentiaries left the loving pair with th