stimate their value. From there I'll take the abbe to the lawyer."

Two days after this conversation the suit was begun. This employment of
the Liberal laywer did harm to the vicar's cause. Those who were opposed
to the government, and all who were known to dislike the priests, or
religion (two things quite distinct which many persons confound), got
hold of the affair and the whole town talked of it. The Museum expert
estimated the Virgin of Valentin and the Christ of Lebrun, two paintings
of great beauty, at eleven thousand francs. As to the bookshelves
and the gothic furniture, the taste for such things was increasing
so rapidly in Paris that their immediate value was at least twelve
thousand. In short, the appraisal of the whole property by the expert
reached the sum of over thirty-six thousand francs. Now it was very
evident that Birotteau never intended to give Mademoiselle Gamard such
an enormous sum of money for the small amount he might owe her under the
terms of the deed; therefore he had, legally speaking, equitable grounds
on which to demand an amendment of the agreement; if this were denied,
Mademoiselle Gamard was plainly guilty of intentional fraud. The Radical
lawyer accordingly began the affair by serving a writ on Mademoiselle
Gamard. Though very harsh in language, this document, strengthened by
citations of precedents and supported by certain clauses in the Code,
was a masterpiece of legal argument, and so evidently just in its
condemnation of the old maid that thirty or forty copies were made and
maliciously distributed through the town.

IV

A few days after this commencement of hostilities between Birotteau and
the old maid, the Baron de Listomere, who expected to be included as
captain of a corvette in a coming promotion lately announced by the
minister of the Navy, received a letter from one of his friends warning
him that there was some intention of putting him on the retired list.
Greatly astonished by this information he started for Paris immediately,
and went at once to the minister, who seemed to be amazed himself, and
even laughed at the baron's fears. The next day, however, in spite of
the minister's assurance, Monsieur de Listomere made inquiries in the
different offices. By an indiscretion (often practised by heads of
departments in favor of their friends) one of the secretaries showed
him a document confirming the fatal news, which was only waiting the
signature of the director,