"Never."

"You hear that, monsieur?" said the justice to the procureur du roi,
who had been listening to the conversation, leading him aside into the
recess of a window, where they remained in conversation for a quarter of
an hour.

An hour later Bongrand was back in Nemours, at Ursula's house, whence he
sent La Bougival to Minoret to beg his attendance. The colossus came at
once.

"Mademoiselle--" began Bongrand, addressing Minoret as he entered the
room.

"Accepts?" cried Minoret, interrupting him.

"No, not yet," replied Bongrand, fingering his glasses. "I had scruples
as to your son's feelings; for Ursula has been much tried lately about a
supposed lover. We know the importance of tranquillity. Can you swear
to me that your son truly loves her and that you have no other intention
than to preserve our dear Ursula from any further Goupilisms?"

"Oh, I'll swear to that," cried Minoret.

"Stop, papa Minoret," said the justice, taking one hand from the pocket
of his trousers to slap Minoret on the shoulder (the colossus trembled);
"Don't swear falsely."

"Swear falsely?"

"Yes, either you or your son, who has just sworn at Fontainebleau, in
presence of four persons and the procureur du roi, that he has never
even thought of his cousin Ursula. You have other reasons for offering
this fortune. I saw you were inventing that tale, and went myself to
Fontainebleau to question your son."

Minoret was dumbfounded at his own folly.

"But where's the harm, Monsieur Bongrand, in proposing to a young
relative to help on a marriage which seems to be for her happiness, and
to invent pretexts to conquer her reluctance to accept the money."

Minoret, whose danger suggested to him an excuse which was almost
admissible, wiped his forehead, wet with perspiration.

"You know the cause of my refusal," said Ursula; "and I request you
never to come here again. Though Monsieur de Portenduere has not told
me his reason, I know that he feels such contempt for you, such dislike
even, that I cannot receive you into my house. My happiness is my only
fortune,--I do not blush to say so; I shall not risk it. Monsieur de
Portenduere is only waiting for my majority to marry me."

"Then the old saw that 'Money does all' is a lie," said Minoret, looking
at the justice of peace, whose observing eyes annoyed him so much.

He rose and left the house, but, once outside, he found the air as
oppressive as in the little salon.

"There mus