the chairs and tables!
that is not the point."

"Commandant," said the notary with dignity, "have I done anything to
merit this? have I served your interests so ill that you withdraw your
confidence from me?"

"No, no, my good fellow; but you exceed your powers. Just now I want you
to take orders, not give them."

"That is only just," said Perrin, "and I recall my hasty remark: excuse
the susceptibility of a professional man, who is honored with the esteem
of his clients; and favor me with your wishes."

"All right," said Raynal heartily. "Well, then--I want mademoiselle
and her family to stay here while I go to Egypt with the First Consul.
Mademoiselle makes difficulties; it offends her delicacy."

"Comedy!" said the notary contemptuously.

"Though her mother's life depends on her staying here."

"Comedy!" said Perrin. Raynal frowned.

"Her pride (begging her pardon) is greater than her affection."

"Farce!"

"I have pitched upon you to reconcile the two."

"Then you have pitched upon the wrong man," said Perrin bluntly. He
added obsequiously, "I am too much your friend. She has been talking you
over, no doubt; but you have a friend, an Ulysses, who is deaf to the
siren's voice. I will be no party to such a transaction. I will not
co-operate to humbug my friend and rob him of his rights."

If Josephine was inferior to the notary in petty sharpness, she was
his superior in the higher kinds of sagacity; and particularly in
instinctive perception of character. Her eye flashed with delight at the
line Perrin was now taking with Raynal. The latter speedily justified
her expectations: he just told Perrin to be off, and send him a more
accommodating notary.

"A more accommodating notary!" screamed Perrin, stung to madness by
this reproach. "There is not a more accommodating notary in Europe.
Ungrateful man! is this the return for all my zeal, my integrity, my
unselfishness? Is there another agent in the world who would have let
such a bargain as Beaurepaire fall into your hands? It serves me right
for deviating from the rules of business. Send me another agent--oh!"

The honest soldier was confused. The lawyer's eloquence overpowered
him. He felt guilty. Josephine saw his simplicity, and made a cut with
a woman's two-edged sword. "Sir," said she coolly, "do you not see it is
an affair of money? This is his way of saying, Pay me handsomely for so
unusual a commission."

"And I'll pay him double," cried Rayna