ll; they cannot profit
by your liberality; but you will be rewarded in a better world, take my
word for that."

The notary muttered indistinctly. He was a man of moderate desires;
would have been quite content if there had been no other world in
perspective. He had studied this one, and made it pay: did not desire a
better; sometimes feared a worse.

"Ah!" said Aubertin, "I see how it is; we do not like to hear ourselves
praised, do we? When shall we see you at the chateau?"

"I propose to call on the baroness the moment I have good news to
bring," replied Perrin; and to avoid any more compliments spurred the
dun pony suddenly; and he waddled away.

Now this Perrin was at that moment on the way to dine with a character
who plays a considerable part in the tale--Commandant Raynal. Perrin had
made himself useful to the commandant, and had become his legal adviser.
And, this very day after dinner, the commandant having done a good day's
work permitted himself a little sentiment over the bottle, and to a man
he thought his friend. He let out that he had a heap of money he did not
know what to do with, and almost hated it now his mother was gone and
could not share it.

The man of law consoled him with oleaginous phrases: told him he very
much underrated the power of money. His hoard, directed by a judicious
adviser, would make him a landed proprietor, and the husband of some
young lady, all beauty, virtue, and accomplishment, whose soothing
influence would soon heal the sorrow caused by an excess of filial
sentiment.

"Halt!" shouted Raynal: "say that again in half the words."

Perrin was nettled, for he prided himself on his colloquial style.

"You can buy a fine estate and a chaste wife with the money," snapped
this smooth personage, substituting curt brutality for honeyed
prolixity.

The soldier was struck by the propositions the moment they flew at him
small and solid, like bullets.

"I've no time," said he, "to be running after women. But the estate I'll
certainly have, because you can get that for me without my troubling my
head."

"Is it a commission, then?" asked the other sharply.

"Of course. Do you think I speak for the sake of talking?"

And so Perrin received formal instructions to look out for a landed
estate; and he was to receive a handsome commission as agent.

Now to settle this affair, and pocket a handsome percentage for himself,
he had only to say "Beaurepaire."

Well, he didn't. Nev