ch: to leave France in a month. A pretty business
it would have been if I had turned your mother out. So you see there is
nothing to hinder you from living here."

"In your house, sir?"

"Why not, pray?"

"Forgive us. But we feel that would be unjust to you, humiliating to us:
the poor are sometimes proud."

"Of course they are," said Raynal: "and I don't want to offend your
pride. Confound the house: why did I go and buy it? It is no use to
me except to give pain to worthy people." He then, after a moment's
reflection, asked her if the matter could not be arranged by some third
party, a mutual friend. "Then again," said he, "I don't know any friend
of yours."

"Yes, sir," said Josephine; "we have one friend, who knows you, and
esteems you highly."

She wanted to name Edouard; but she hesitated, and asked her conscience
if it was fair to name him: and while she blushed and hesitated, lo and
behold a rival referee hove in sight. Raynal saw him, suddenly opened a
window, and shouted, "Hallo come in here: you are wanted."

Perrin had ridden up to complete the exodus of the De Beaurepaires, and
was strolling about inspecting the premises he had expelled them from.

Here was a pretty referee!

Josephine almost screamed--"What are you doing? that is our enemy, our
bitterest enemy. He has only sold you the estate to spite us, not for
the love of you. I had--we had--we mortified his vanity. It was not our
fault: he is a viper. Sir, pray, pray, pray be on your guard against his
counsels."

These words spoken with rare fire and earnestness carried conviction:
but it was too late to recall the invitation. The notary entered the
room, and was going to bow obsequiously to Raynal, when he caught sight
of Josephine, and almost started. Raynal, after Josephine's warning, was
a little at a loss how to make him available; and even that short delay
gave the notary's one foible time to lead him into temptation. "Our
foibles are our manias."

"So," said he, "you have taken possession, commandant. These military
men are prompt, are they not, mademoiselle?"

"Do not address yourself to me, sir, I beg," said Josephine quietly.

Perrin kept his self-command. "It is only as Commandant Raynal's agent
I presume to address so distinguished a lady: in that character I must
inform you that whatever movables you have removed are yours: those we
find in the house on entering we keep."

"Come, come, not so fast," cried Raynal; "bother