de Commarin has behaved like an angel!  He has settled all his fortune on his son, absolutely all.  He intends living alone on one of his estates.  I am afraid the poor dear old man will not live long.  I am not sure that he has entirely recovered from that last attack.  Anyhow, my grandchild is settled, and grandly too.  I know what it has cost me, and how economical I shall have to be.  But I do not think much of those parents who hesitate at any pecuniary sacrifice when their children’s happiness is at stake.”

The marchioness forgot, however, to state that, a week before the wedding, Albert freed her from a very embarrassing position, and had discharged a considerable amount of her debts.

Since then, she had not borrowed more than nine thousand francs of him; but she intends confessing to him some day how greatly she is annoyed by her upholsterer, by her dressmaker, by three linen drapers, and by five or six other tradesmen.

Ah, well, she is all the same a worthy woman; she never says anything against her son-in-law!

Retiring to his father’s home in Poitou, after sending in his resignation, M. Daburon has at length found rest; forgetfulness will come later on.  His friends do not yet despair of inducing him to marry.

Madame Juliette is quite consoled for the loss of Noel.  The eighty thousand francs hidden by him under the pillow were not taken from her.  They are nearly all gone now though.  Before long the sale of a handsome suite of furniture will be announced.

Old Tabaret, alone, is indelibly impressed.  After having believed in the infallibility of justice, he now sees every where nothing but judicial errors.

The ex-amateur detective doubts the very existence of crime, and maintains that the evidence of one’s senses proves nothing.  He circulates petitions for the abolition of capital punishment, and has organised a society for the defence of poor and innocent prisoners.