under the general deed of gift between
husband and wife; and in the second case that the entail shall be
declared void. This agreement concerns the wife's interest."

"Both clauses seem to me perfectly just," said Maitre Mathias. "As
to their ratification, Monsieur le comte can, doubtless, come to an
understanding with the chancellor, if necessary."

Solonet took a pen and added this momentous clause on the margin of the
contract. Paul and Natalie paid no attention to the matter; but Madame
Evangelista dropped her eyes while Maitre Mathias read the added
sentence aloud.

"We will now sign," said the mother.

The volume of voice which Madame Evangelista repressed as she uttered
those words betrayed her violent emotion. She was thinking to herself:
"No, my daughter shall not be ruined--but he! My daughter shall have the
name, the title, and the fortune. If she should some day discover that
she does not love him, that she loves another, irresistibly, Paul shall
be driven out of France! My daughter shall be free, and happy, and
rich."

If Maitre Mathias understood how to analyze business interests, he
knew little of the analysis of human passions. He accepted Madame
Evangelista's words as an honorable "amende," instead of judging them
for what they were, a declaration of war. While Solonet and his clerk
superintended Natalie as she signed the documents,--an operation which
took time,--Mathias took Paul aside and told him the meaning of the
stipulation by which he had saved him from ultimate pain.

"The whole affair is now 'en regle.' I hold the documents. But the
contract contains a rescript for the diamonds; you must ask for them.
Business is business. Diamonds are going up just now, but may go down.
The purchase of those new domains justifies you in turning everything
into money that you can. Therefore, Monsieur le comte, have no false
modesty in this matter. The first payment is due after the formalities
are over. The sum is two hundred thousand francs; put the diamonds into
that. You have the lien on this house, which will be sold at once, and
will pay the rest. If you have the courage to spend only fifty thousand
francs for the next three years, you can save the two hundred thousand
francs you are now obliged to pay. If you plant vineyards on your new
estates, you can get an income of over twenty-five thousand francs upon
them. You may be said, in short, to have made a good marriage."

Paul pressed the hand of