The old lady asked him to
dinner that evening, also asking his niece and assuring him that the
abbe would be the only other guest.
"He must have wished Ursula to see Paris," said Minoret-Levrault.
"Pest!" cried Cremiere; "he can't take a step without that girl!"
"Something must have happened to make old Portenduere accept his arm,"
said Massin.
"So none of you have guessed that your uncle has sold his Funds and
released that little Savinien?" cried Goupil. "He refused Dionis, but
he didn't refuse Madame de Portenduere-- Ha, ha! you are all done for.
The viscount will propose a marriage-contract instead of a mortgage,
and the doctor will make the husband settle on his jewel of a girl the
sum he has now paid to secure the alliance."
"It is not a bad thing to marry Ursula to Savinien," said the butcher.
"The old lady gives a dinner to-day to Monsieur Minoret. Tiennette
came early for a filet."
"Well, Dionis, here's a fine to-do!" said Massin, rushing up to the
notary, who was entering the square.
"What is? It's all going right," returned the notary. "Your uncle has
sold his Funds and Madame de Portenduere has sent for me to witness
the signing of a mortgage on her property for one hundred thousand
francs, lent to her by your uncle.
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