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and welfare of three generations。 Have WE wasted the missing millions？
We are simply endeavoring to solve difficulties of which we are wholly
guiltless。〃
〃Marry us； and don't haggle；〃 said Solonet。
〃Haggle！ do you call it haggling to defend the interests of father and
mother and children？〃 said Mathias。
〃Yes；〃 said Paul； continuing his remarks to Madame Evangelista； 〃I
deplore the extravagance of my youth； which does not permit me to stop
this discussion； as you deplore your ignorance of business and your
involuntary wastefulness。 God is my witness that I am not thinking； at
this moment； of myself。 A simple life at Lanstrac does not alarm me；
but how can I ask Mademoiselle Natalie to renounce her tastes； her
habits？ Her very existence would be changed。〃
〃Where did Evangelista get his millions？〃 said the widow。
〃Monsieur Evangelista was in business；〃 replied the old notary； 〃he
played in the great game of commerce； he despatched ships and made
enormous sums； we are simply a landowner； whose capital is invested；
whose income is fixed。〃
〃There is still a way to harmonize all interests；〃 said Solonet；
uttering this sentence in a high falsetto tone； which silenced the
other three and drew their eyes and their attention upon himself。
This young man was not unlike a skilful coachman who holds the reins
of four horses； and amuses himself by first exciting his animals and
then subduing them。 He had let loose these passions； and then； in
turn； he calmed them； making Paul； whose life and happiness were in
the balance； sweat in his harness； as well as his own client； who
could not clearly see her way through this involved discussion。
〃Madame Evangelista；〃 he continued； after a slight pause； 〃can resign
her investment in the Five…per…cents at once； and she can sell this
house。 I can get three hundred thousand francs for it by cutting the
land into small lots。 Out of that sum she can give you one hundred and
fifty thousand francs。 In this way she pays down nine hundred thousand
of her daughter's patrimony； immediately。 That； to be sure； is not all
that she owes her daughter； but where will you find； in France； a
better dowry？〃
〃Very good；〃 said Maitre Mathias； 〃but what； then； becomes of madame？〃
At this question； which appeared to imply consent； Solonet said；
softly； to himself； 〃Well done； old fox！ I've caught you！〃
〃Madame；〃 he replied； aloud； 〃will keep the hundred and fifty thousand
francs remaining from the sale of the house。 This sum； added to the
value of her furniture； can be invested in an annuity which will give
her twenty thousand francs a year。 Monsieur le comte can arrange to
provide a residence for her under his roof。 Lanstrac is a large house。
You have also a house in Paris；〃 he went on； addressing himself to
Paul。 〃Madame can； therefore； live with you wherever you are。 A widow
with twenty thousand francs a year； and no household to maintain； is
richer than madame was when she possessed her whole fortune。 Madame
Evangelista has only this one daughter； Monsieur le comte is without
relations； it will be many years before your heirs attain their
majority； no conflict of interests is； therefore； to be feared。 A
mother…in…law and a son…in…law placed in such relations will form a
household of united interests。 Madame Evangelista can make up for the
remaining deficit by paying a certain sum for her support from her
annuity； which will ease your way。 We know that madame is too generous
and too large…minded to be willing to be a burden on her children。 In
this way you can make one household； united and happy； and be able to
spend； in your own right； one hundred thousand francs a year。 Is not
that sum sufficient； Monsieur le comte； to enjoy； in all countries；
the luxuries of life； and to satisfy all your wants and caprices？
Believe me； a young couple often feel the need of a third member of
the household； and； I ask you； what third member could be so desirable
as a good mother？〃
〃A little paradise！〃 exclaimed the old notary。
Shocked to see his client's joy at this proposal； Mathias sat down on
an ottoman； his head in his hands； plunged in reflections that were
evidently painful。 He knew well the involved phraseology in which
notaries and lawyers wrap up； intentionally； malicious schemes； and he
was not the man to be taken in by it。 He now began； furtively； to
watch his brother notary and Madame Evangelista as they conversed with
Paul； endeavoring to detect some clew to the deep…laid plot which was
beginning to appear upon the surface。
〃Monsieur；〃 said Paul to Solonet； 〃I thank you for the pains you take
to conciliate our interests。 This arrangement will solve all
difficulties far more happily than I expectedif；〃 he added； turning
to Madame Evangelista； 〃it is agreeable to you； madame； for I could
not desire anything that did not equally please you。〃
〃I？〃 she said； 〃all that makes the happiness of my children is joy to
me。 Do not consider me in any way。〃
〃That would not be right；〃 said Paul； eagerly。 〃If your future is not
honorably provided for； Natalie and I would suffer more than you would
suffer for yourself。〃
〃Don't be uneasy； Monsieur le comte；〃 interposed Solonet。
〃Ah！〃 thought old Mathias； 〃they'll make him kiss the rod before they
scourge him。〃
〃You may feel quite satisfied；〃 continued Solonet。 〃There are so many
enterprises going on in Bordeaux at this moment that investments for
annuities can be negotiated on very advantageous terms。 After
deducting from the proceeds of the house and furniture the hundred and
fifty thousand francs we owe you； I think I can guarantee to madame
that two hundred and fifty thousand will remain to her。 I take upon
myself to invest that sum in a first mortgage on property worth a
million； and to obtain ten per cent for it；twenty…five thousand
francs a year。 Consequently； we are marrying on nearly equal fortunes。
In fact； against your forty…six thousand francs a year； Mademoiselle
Natalie brings you forty thousand a year in the Five…per…cents； and
one hundred and fifty thousand in a round sum； which gives； in all；
forty…seven thousand francs a year。〃
〃That is evident；〃 said Paul。
As he ended his speech； Solonet had cast a sidelong glance at his
client； intercepted by Mathias； which meant： 〃Bring up your reserves。〃
〃But；〃 exclaimed Madame Evangelista； in tones of joy that did not seem
to be feigned； 〃I can give Natalie my diamonds； they are worth； at
least； a hundred thousand francs。〃
〃We can have them appraised；〃 said the notary。 〃This will change the
whole face of things。 Madame can then keep the proceeds of her house；
all but fifty thousand francs。 Nothing will prevent Monsieur le comte
from giving us a receipt in due form； as having received； in full；
Mademoiselle Natalie's inheritance from her father； this will close；
of course； the guardianship account。 If madame； with Spanish
generos