And Schmucke?  He was busy buying flowers and cakes for Topinard’s children, and went home almost joyously.

“I am gifing die bresents . . .” he said, and he smiled.  It was the first smile for three months, but any one who had seen Schmucke’s face would have shuddered to see it there.

“But dere is ein condition—­”

“It is too kind of you, sir,” said the mother.

“De liddle girl shall gif me a kiss and put die flowers in her hair, like die liddle German maidens—­”

“Olga, child, do just as the gentleman wishes,” said the mother, assuming an air of discipline.

“Do not scold mein liddle German girl,” implored Schmucke.  It seemed to him that the little one was his dear Germany.  Topinard came in.

“Three porters are bringing up the whole bag of tricks,” he said.

“Oh!  Here are two hundred vrancs to bay for eferydings . . .” said Schmucke.  “But, mein friend, your Montame Dobinard is ver’ nice; you shall marry her, is it not so?  I shall gif you tausend crowns, and die liddle vone shall haf tausend crowns for her toury, and you shall infest it in her name. . . .  Und you are not to pe ein zuper any more —­you are to pe de cashier at de teatre—­”

“I?—­instead of old Baudrand?”

“Yes.”

“Who told you so?”

“Mennesir Gautissart!”

“Oh! it is enough to send one wild with joy! . . .  Eh!  I say, Rosalie, what a rumpus there will be at the theatre!  But it is not possible—­”

“Our benefactor must not live in a garret—­”

“Pshaw! for die few tays dat I haf to lif it ees fery komfortable,” said Schmucke.  “Goot-pye; I am going to der zemetery, to see vat dey haf don mit Bons, und to order som flowers for his grafe.”

Mme. Camusot de Marville was consumed by the liveliest apprehensions.  At a council held with Fraisier, Berthier, and Godeschal, the two last-named authorities gave it as their opinion that it was hopeless to dispute a will drawn up by two notaries in the presence of two witnesses, so precisely was the instrument worded by Leopold Hannequin.  Honest Godeschal said that even if Schmucke’s own legal adviser should succeed in deceiving him, he would find out the truth at last, if it were only from some officious barrister, the gentlemen of the robe being wont to perform such acts of generosity and disinterestedness by way of self-advertisement.  And the two officials took their leave of the Presidente with a parting caution against Fraisier, concerning whom they had naturally made inquiries.

At that very moment Fraisier, straight from the affixing of the seals in the Rue de Normandie, was waiting for an interview with Mme. de Marville.  Berthier and Godeschal had suggested that he should be shown into the study; the whole affair was too dirty for the President to look into (to use their own expression), and they wished to give Mme. de Marville their opinion in Fraisier’s absence.