be announced that very day and the banns published on Sunday.  The contract could be drawn immediately.  Mademoiselle Rogron agreed, in consideration of the marriage, to appear in the contract as settling her capital on her brother, retaining only the income of it.  Vinet made Rogron and his sister comprehend the necessity of antedating the document by two or three days, so as to commit the mother and daughter in the eyes of the public and give them a reason for continuing their visits.

“Sign that contract and I’ll take upon myself to get you safely out of this affair,” said the lawyer.  “There will be a terrible fight; but I will put my whole soul into it—­you’ll have to make me a votive offering.”

“Oh, yes, yes,” said Rogron.

By half-past eleven the lawyer had plenary powers to draw the contract and conduct the defence of the Rogrons.  At twelve o’clock application was made to Monsieur Tiphaine, as a judge sitting in chambers, against Brigaut and the widow Lorrain for having abducted Pierrette Lorrain, a minor, from the house of her legal guardian.  In this way the bold lawyer became the aggressor and made Rogron the injured party.  He spoke of the matter from this point of view in the court-house.

The judge postponed the hearing till four o’clock.  Needless to describe the excitement in the town.  Monsieur Tiphaine knew that by three o’clock the consultation of doctors would be over and their report drawn up; he wished Auffray, as surrogate-guardian, to be at the hearing armed with that report.

The announcement of Rogron’s marriage and the sacrifices made to it by Sylvie in the contract alienated two important supporters from the brother and sister, namely,—­Mademoiselle Habert and the colonel, whose hopes were thus annihilated.  They remained, however, ostensibly on the Rogron side for the purpose of injuring it.  Consequently, as soon as Monsieur Martener mentioned the alarming condition of Pierrette’s head, Celeste and the colonel told of the blow she had given herself during the evening when Sylvie had forced her to leave the salon; and they related the old maid’s barbarous and unfeeling comments, with other statements proving her cruelty to her suffering cousin.  Vinet had foreseen this storm; but he had secured the entire fortune of the Rogrons for Mademoiselle de Chargeboeuf, and he promised himself that in a few weeks she should be mistress of the Rogron house, and reign with him over Provins, and even bring about a fusion with the Breauteys and the aristocrats in the interests of his ambition.

From midday to four o’clock all the ladies of the Tiphaine clique sent to inquire after Mademoiselle Lorrain.  She, poor girl, was wholly ignorant of the commotion she was causing in the little town.  In the midst of her sufferings she was ineffably happy in recovering her grandmother and Brigaut, the two objects of her affection.  Brigaut’s eyes were constantly full of tears.  The old grandmother