"
"Well, a hundred thousand to Minoret, and three hundred thousand
apiece to you and me, that would be fair."
"Ha, that would make us comfortable!"
"If he did that," said Massin, "I should sell my situation in court
and buy an estate; I'd try to be judge at Fontainebleau, and get
myself elected deputy."
"As for me I should buy a brokerage business," said the collector.
"Unluckily, that girl he has on his arm and the abbe have got round
him. I don't believe we can do anything with him."
"Still, we know very well he will never leave anything to the Church."
CHAPTER IV
ZELIE
The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass
will now be understood. The dullest persons have mind enough to
foresee a danger to self-interests. Self-interest constitutes the mind
of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist, and on that ground
the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful. So the fatal
reasoning, "If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her
godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough
to make him leave her his property," was now stamped in letters of
fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.
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