"He is too honest a man to steal extreme unction," said Cremiere; "we
may be sure of his death now."
"Yes, we shall each get about twenty thousand francs a year," replied
Madame Massin.
"I have an idea," said Zelie, "that for the last three years he hasn't
invested anything--he grew fond of hoarding."
"Perhaps the money is in the cellar," whispered Massin to Cremiere.
"I hope we shall be able to find it," said Minoret-Levrault.
"But after what he said at the ball we can't have any doubt," cried
Madame Massin.
"In any case," began Cremiere, "how shall we manage? Shall we divide;
shall we go to law; or could we draw lots? We are adults, you know--"
A discussion, which soon became angry, now arose as to the method of
procedure. At the end of half an hour a perfect uproar of voices,
Zelie's screeching organ detaching itself from the rest, resounded in
the courtyard and even in the street.
The noise reached the doctor's ears; he heard the words, "The house
--the house is worth thirty thousand francs. I'll take it at that,"
said, or rather bellowed by Cremiere.
"Well, we'll take what it's worth," said Zelie, sharply.
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