Such was the position of the steward at the time when the Comte de Serizy desired to purchase the farm of Moulineaux,—­the ownership of which was indispensable to his comfort.  This farm consisted of ninety-six parcels of land bordering the estate of Presles, and frequently running into it, producing the most annoying discussions as to the trimming of hedges and ditches and the cutting of trees.  Any other than a cabinet minister would probably have had scores of lawsuits on his hands.  Pere Leger only wished to buy the property in order to sell to the count at a handsome advance.  In order to secure the exorbitant sum on which his mind was set, the farmer had long endeavored to come to an understanding with Moreau.  Impelled by circumstances, he had, only three days before this critical Sunday, had a talk with the steward in the open field, and proved to him clearly that he (Moreau) could make the count invest his money at two and a half per cent, and thus appear to serve his patron’s interests, while he himself pocketed forty thousand francs which Leger offered him to bring about the transaction.

“I tell you what,” said the steward to his wife, as he went to bed that night, “if I make fifty thousand francs out of the Moulineaux affair,—­and I certainly shall, for the count will give me ten thousand as a fee,—­we’ll retire to Isle-Adam and live in the Pavillon de Nogent.”

This “pavillon” was a charming place, originally built by the Prince de Conti for a mistress, and in it every convenience and luxury had been placed.

“That will suit me,” said his wife.  “The Dutchman who lives there has put it in good order, and now that he is obliged to return to India, he would probably let us have it for thirty thousand francs.”

“We shall be close to Champagne,” said Moreau.  “I am in hopes of buying the farm and mill of Mours for a hundred thousand francs.  That would give us ten thousand a year in rentals.  Nogent is one of the most delightful residences in the valley; and we should still have an income of ten thousand from the Grand-Livre.”

“But why don’t you ask for the post of juge-de-paix at Isle-Adam?  That would give us influence, and fifteen hundred a year salary.”

“Well, I did think of it.”

With these plans in mind, Moreau, as soon as he heard from the count that he was coming to Presles, and wished him to invite Margueron to dinner on Saturday, sent off an express to the count’s head-valet, inclosing a letter to his master, which the messenger failed to deliver before Monsieur de Serizy retired at his usually early hour.  Augustin, however, placed it, according to custom in such cases, on his master’s desk.  In this letter Moreau begged the count not to trouble himself to come down, but to trust entirely to him.  He added that Margueron was no longer willing to sell the whole in one block, and talked of cutting the farm up into a number of smaller lots.  It was necessary to circumvent this plan, and perhaps, added Moreau, it might be best to employ a third party to make the purchase.