The young notary drew his client into the next room, saying to himself, as he did so:—­

“I get a three-thousand franc fee for the guardianship account, three thousand for the contract, six thousand on the sale of the house, fifteen thousand in all—­better not be angry.”

He closed the door, cast on Madame Evangelista the cool look of a business man, and said:—­

“Madame, having, for your sake, passed—­as I did—­the proper limits of legal craft, do you seriously intend to reward my devotion by such language?”

“But, monsieur—­”

“Madame, I did not, it is true, calculate the effect of the deeds of gift.  But if you do not wish Comte Paul for your son-in-law you are not obliged to accept him.  The contract is not signed.  Give your fete, and postpone the signing.  It is far better to brave Bordeaux than sacrifice yourself.”

“How can I justify such a course to society, which is already prejudiced against us by the slow conclusion of the marriage?”

“By some error committed in Paris; some missing document not sent with the rest,” replied Solonet.

“But those purchases of land near Lanstrac?”

“Monsieur de Manerville will be at no loss to find another bride and another dowry.”

“Yes, he’ll lose nothing; but we lose all, all!”

“You?” replied Solonet; “why, you can easily find another count who will cost you less money, if a title is the chief object of this marriage.”

“No, no! we can’t stake our honor in that way.  I am caught in a trap, monsieur.  All Bordeaux will ring with this to-morrow.  Our solemn words are pledged—­”

“You wish the happiness of Mademoiselle Natalie.”

“Above all things.”

“To be happy in France,” said the notary, “means being mistress of the home.  She can lead that fool of a Manerville by the nose if she chooses; he is so dull he has actually seen nothing of all this.  Even if he now distrusts you, he will always trust his wife; and his wife is you, is she not?  The count’s fate is still within your power if you choose to play the cards in your hand.”

“If that were true, monsieur, I know not what I would not do to show my gratitude,” she said, in a transport of feeling that colored her cheeks.

“Let us now return to the others, madame,” said Solonet.  “Listen carefully to what I shall say; and then—­you shall think me incapable if you choose.”

“My dear friend,” said the young notary to Maitre Mathias, “in spite of your great ability, you have not foreseen either the case of Monsieur de Manerville dying without children, nor that in which he leaves only female issue.  In either of those cases the entail would pass to the Manervilles, or, at any rate, give rise to suits on their part.  I think, therefore, it is necessary to stipulate that in the first case the entailed property shall pass under the general deed of gift between husband and wife; and in the second case that the entail shall be declared void.  This agreement concerns the wife’s interest.”