eed of relinquishment," said Madame de Listomere; "it ends
all discussion, and makes them over to Mademoiselle Gamard." She laid
the document on the table. ("See the confidence I place in you," thought
she.) "It is worthy of you, monsieur," she added, "worthy of your noble
character, to reconcile two Christians,--though at present I am not
especially concerned for Monsieur Birotteau--"

"He is living in your house," said Troubert, interrupting her.

"No, monsieur, he is no longer there." ("That peerage and my nephew's
promotion force me to do base things," thought she.)

The priest remained impassible, but his calm exterior was an indication
of violent emotion. Monsieur Bourbonne alone had fathomed the secret of
that apparent tranquillity. The priest had triumphed!

"Why did you take upon yourself to bring that relinquishment," he
asked, with a feeling analogous to that which impels a woman to fish for
compliments.

"I could not avoid a feeling of compassion. Birotteau, whose feeble
nature must be well known to you, entreated me to see Madaemoiselle
Gamard and to obtain as the price of his renunciation--"

The priest frowned.

"of rights upheld by distinguished lawyers, the portrait of--"

Troubert looked fixedly at Madame de Listomere.

"the portrait of Chapeloud," she said, continuing: "I leave you to judge
of his claim." ("You will be certain to lose your case if we go to law,
and you know it," thought she.)

The tone of her voice as she said the words "distinguished lawyers"
showed the priest that she knew very well both the strength and weakness
of the enemy. She made her talent so plain to this connoisseur emeritus
in the course of a conversation which lasted a long time in the tone
here given, that Troubert finally went down to Mademoiselle Gamard to
obtain her answer to Birotteau's request for the portrait.

He soon returned.

"Madame," he said, "I bring you the words of a dying woman. 'The Abbe
Chapeloud was so true a friend to me,' she said, 'that I cannot consent
to part with his picture.' As for me," added Troubert, "if it were mine
I would not yield it. My feelings to my late friend were so faithful
that I should feel my right to his portrait was above that of others."

"Well, there's no need to quarrel over a bad picture." ("I care as
little about it as you do," thought she.) "Keep it, and I will have a
copy made of it. I take some credit to myself for having averted this
deplorable lawsuit;