how we are going to compass it, but you shall be
received."

"I wish to have the family bound over by a surety of four hundred
thousand francs, and by a written document stating the nature of the
compromise, so as to keep a loaded cannon pointed at its heart."

"We agree," said Chesnel, without admitting that the three hundred
thousand francs was in his possession; "but the amount must be deposited
with a third party and returned to the family after your election and
repayment."

"No; after the marriage of my grand-niece, Mlle. Duval. She will very
likely have four million francs some day; the reversion of our property
(mine and my wife's) shall be settled upon her by her marriage-contract,
and you shall arrange a match between her and the young Count."

"Never!"

"_Never_!" repeated du Croisier, quite intoxicated with triumph.
"Good-night!"

"Idiot that I am," thought Chesnel, "why did I shrink from a lie to such
a man?"

Du Croisier took himself off; he was pleased with himself; he had
enjoyed Chesnel's humiliation; he had held the destinies of a proud
house, the representatives of the aristocracy of the province, suspended
in his hand; he had set the print of his heel on the very heart of the
d'Esgrignons; and, finally, he had broken off the whole negotiation on
the score of his wounded pride. He went up to his room, leaving his wife
alone with Chesnel. In his intoxication, he saw his victory clear before
him. He firmly believed that the three hundred thousand francs had been
squandered; the d'Esgrignons must sell or mortgage all that they had to
raise the money; the Assize Court was inevitable to his mind.

An affair of forgery can always be settled out of court in France if
the missing amount is returned. The losers by the crime are usually
well-to-do, and have no wish to blight an imprudent man's character. But
du Croisier had no mind to slacken his hold until he knew what he was
about. He meditated until he fell asleep on the magnificent manner in
which his hopes would be fulfilled by the way of the Assize Court or by
marriage. The murmur of voices below, the lamentations of Chesnel and
Mme. du Croisier, sounded sweet in his ears.

Mme. du Croisier shared Chesnel's views of the d'Esgrignons. She was
a deeply religious woman, a Royalist attached to the noblesse; the
interview had been in every way a cruel shock to her feelings. She, a
staunch Royalist, had heard the roaring of that Liberalism, which, in