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position； she was thinking to herself： 〃How odd it is that they tell
me nothing of my own affairs。〃
The younger notary had seized； in the main； the future effect of the
new proposal； based； as it was； on the self…love of both parties； into
which his client had fallen headlong。 Now； while Mathias was more than
a mere notary； Solonet was still a young man； and brought into his
business the vanity of youth。 It often happens that personal conceit
makes a man forgetful of the interests of his client。 In this case；
Maitre Solonet； who would not suffer the widow to think that Nestor
had vanquished Achilles； advised her to conclude the marriage on the
terms proposed。 Little he cared for the future working of the marriage
contract； to him； the conditions of victory were： Madame Evangelista
released from her obligations as guardian； her future secured； and
Natalie married。
〃Bordeaux shall know that you have ceded eleven hundred thousand
francs to your daughter； and that you still have twenty…five thousand
francs a year left；〃 whispered Solonet to his client。 〃For my part； I
did not expect to obtain such a fine result。〃
〃But；〃 she said； 〃explain to me why the creation of this entail should
have calmed the storm at once。〃
〃It relieves their distrust of you and your daughter。 An entail is
unchangeable； neither husband nor wife can touch that capital。〃
〃Then this arrangement is positively insulting！〃
〃No； we call it simply precaution。 The old fellow has caught you in a
net。 If you refuse to consent to the entail； he can reply： 'Then your
object is to squander the fortune of my client； who； by the creation
of this entail； is protected from all such injury as securely as if
the marriage took place under the 〃regime dotal。〃'〃
Solonet quieted his own scruples by reflecting： 〃After all； these
stipulations will take effect only in the future； by which time Madame
Evangelista will be dead and buried。〃
Madame Evangelista contented herself； for the present； with these
explanations； having full confidence in Solonet。 She was wholly
ignorant of law； considering her daughter as good as married； she
thought she had gained her end； and was filled with the joy of
success。 Thus； as Mathias had shrewdly calculated； neither Solonet nor
Madame Evangelista understood as yet； to its full extent； this scheme
which he had based on reasons that were undeniable。
〃Well； Monsieur Mathias；〃 said the widow； 〃all is for the best； is it
not？〃
〃Madame； if you and Monsieur le comte consent to this arrangement you
ought to exchange pledges。 It is fully understood； I suppose；〃 he
continued； looking from one to the other； 〃that the marriage will only
take place on condition of creating an entail upon the estate of
Lanstrac and the house in the rue de la Pepiniere； together with eight
hundred thousand francs in money brought by the future wife； the said
sum to be invested in landed property？ Pardon me the repetition；
madame； but a positive and solemn engagement becomes absolutely
necessary。 The creation of an entail requires formalities； application
to the chancellor； a royal ordinance； and we ought at once to conclude
the purchase of the new estate in order that the property be included
in the royal ordinance by virtue of which it becomes inalienable。 In
many families this would be reduced to writing； but on this occasion I
think a simple consent would suffice。 Do you consent？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Madame Evangelista。
〃Yes；〃 said Paul。
〃And I？〃 asked Natalie； laughing。
〃You are a minor； mademoiselle；〃 replied Solonet； 〃don't complain of
that。〃
It was then agreed that Maitre Mathias should draw up the contract；
Maitre Solonet the guardianship account and release； and that both
documents should be signed； as the law requires some days before the
celebration of the marriage。 After a few polite salutations the
notaries withdrew。
〃It rains； Mathias； shall I take you home？〃 said Solonet。 〃My
cabriolet is here。〃
〃My carriage is here too；〃 said Paul； manifesting an intention to
accompany the old man。
〃I won't rob you of a moment's pleasure；〃 said Mathias。 〃I accept my
friend Solonet's offer。〃
〃Well；〃 said Achilles to Nestor； as the cabriolet rolled away； 〃you
have been truly patriarchal to…night。 The fact is； those young people
would certainly have ruined themselves。〃
〃I felt anxious about their future；〃 replied Mathias； keeping silent
as to the real motives of his proposition。
At this moment the two notaries were like a pair of actors arm in arm
behind the stage on which they have played a scene of hatred and
provocation。
〃But；〃 said Solonet； thinking of his rights as notary； 〃isn't it my
place to buy that land you mentioned？ The money is part of our dowry。〃
〃How can you put property bought in the name of Mademoiselle
Evangelista into the creation of an entail by the Comte de
Manerville？〃 replied Mathias。
〃We shall have to ask the chancellor about that；〃 said Solonet。
〃But I am the notary of the seller as well as of the buyer of that
land；〃 said Mathias。 〃Besides； Monsieur de Manerville can buy in his
own name。 At the time of payment we can make mention of the fact that
the dowry funds are put into it。〃
〃You've an answer for everything； old man；〃 said Solonet； laughing。
〃You were really surpassing to…night； you beat us squarely。〃
〃For an old fellow who didn't expect your batteries of grape…shot； I
did pretty well； didn't I？〃
〃Ha！ ha！ ha！〃 laughed Solonet。
The odious struggle in which the material welfare of a family had been
so perilously near destruction was to the two notaries nothing more
than a matter of professional polemics。
〃I haven't been forty years in harness for nothing；〃 remarked Mathias。
〃Look here； Solonet；〃 he added； 〃I'm a good fellow； you shall help in
drawing the deeds for the sale of those lands。〃
〃Thanks； my dear Mathias。 I'll serve you in return on the very first
occasion。〃
While the two notaries were peacefully returning homeward； with no
other sensations than a little throaty warmth； Paul and Madame
Evangelista were left a prey to the nervous trepidation； the quivering
of the flesh and brain which excitable natures pass through after a
scene in which their interests and their feelings have been violently
shaken。 In Madame Evangelista these last mutterings of the storm were
overshadowed by a terrible reflection； a lurid gleam which she wanted；
at any cost； to dispel。
〃Has Maitre Mathias destroyed in a few minutes the work I have been
doing for six months？〃 she asked herself。 〃Was he withdrawing Paul
from my influence by filling his mind with suspicion during their
secret conference in the next room？〃
She was standing absorbed in these thoughts before the fireplace； her
elbow resting on the marble mantel…shelf。 When the porte…cochere
closed behind the carriage of the two notaries； she turned to her