If they met their uncle walking on the banks of the canal or
along the road they would look at each other piteously.
"He must have got hold of some elixir of life," said one.
"He has made a bargain with the devil," replied the other.
"He ought to give us the bulk of it; that fat Minoret doesn't need
anything," said Massin.
"Ah! but Minoret has a son who'll waste his substance," answered
Cremiere.
"How much do you really think the doctor has?"
"At the end of twelve years, say twelve thousand francs saved each
year, that would give one hundred and forty-four thousand francs, and
the interest brings in at least one hundred thousand more. But as he
must, if he consults a notary in Paris, have made some good strokes of
business, and we know that up to 1822 he could get seven or eight per
cent from the State, he must now have at least four hundred thousand
francs, without counting the capital of his fourteen thousand a year
from the five per cents. If he were to die to-morrow without leaving
anything to Ursula we should get at least seven or eight hundred
thousand francs, besides the house and furniture.
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