't pay any attention to what poor Monsieur
d'Aubrion has just said to you; the Duchesse de Chaulieu has turned his
head. I repeat, nothing shall interfere with the marriage--"

"Very good, madame. The three millions which my father owed were paid
yesterday."

"In money?" she asked.

"Yes, in full, capital and interest; and I am about to do honor to his
memory--"

"What folly!" exclaimed his mother-in-law. "Who is this?" she whispered
in Grandet's ear, perceiving the president.

"My man of business," he answered in a low voice.

The marquise bowed superciliously to Monsieur de Bonfons.

"We are pushing each other's fortunes already," said the president,
taking up his hat. "Good-by, cousin."

"He is laughing at me, the old cockatoo! I'd like to put six inches of
iron into him!" muttered Charles.

The president was out of hearing. Three days later Monsieur de Bonfons,
on his return to Saumur, announced his marriage with Eugenie. Six months
after the marriage he was appointed councillor in the Cour royale at
Angers. Before leaving Saumur Madame de Bonfons had the gold of certain
jewels, once so precious to her, melted up, and put, together with the
eight thousand francs paid back by her cousin, into a golden pyx, which
she gave to the parish church where she had so long prayed for _him_.
She now spent her time between Angers and Saumur. Her husband, who had
shown some public spirit on a certain occasion, became a judge in the
superior courts, and finally, after a few years, president of them. He
was anxiously awaiting a general election, in the hope of being returned
to the Chamber of deputies. He hankered after a peerage; and then--

"The king will be his cousin, won't he?" said Nanon, la Grande Nanon,
Madame Cornoiller, bourgeoise of Saumur, as she listened to her
mistress, who was recounting the honors to which she was called.

Nevertheless, Monsieur de Bonfons (he had finally abolished his
patronymic of Cruchot) did not realize any of his ambitious ideas. He
died eight days after his election as deputy of Saumur. God, who sees
all and never strikes amiss, punished him, no doubt, for his sordid
calculations and the legal cleverness with which, _accurante Cruchot_,
he had drawn up his marriage contract, in which husband and wife gave to
each other, "in case they should have no children, their entire property
of every kind, landed or otherwise, without exception or reservation,
dispensing even with the formali