his old friend very affectionately, a gesture
which did not escape Madame Evangelista, who now came forward to offer
him the pen. Suspicion became certainty to her mind. She was confident
that Paul and Mathias had come to an understanding about her. Rage and
hatred sent the blood surging through her veins to her heart. The worst
had come.

After verifying that all the documents were duly signed and the initials
of the parties affixed to the bottom of the leaves, Maitre Mathias
looked from Paul to his mother-in-law, and seeing that his client did
not intend to speak of the diamonds, he said:--

"I do not suppose there can be any doubt about the transfer of the
diamonds, as you are now one family."

"It would be more regular if Madame Evangelista made them over now,
as Monsieur de Manerville has become responsible for the guardianship
funds, and we never know who may live or die," said Solonet, who thought
he saw in this circumstance fresh cause of anger in the mother-in-law
against the son-in-law.

"Ah! mother," cried Paul, "it would be insulting to us all to do
that,--'Summum jus, summum injuria,' monsieur," he said to Solonet.

"And I," said Madame Evangelista, led by the hatred now surging in her
heart to see a direct insult to her in the indirect appeal of Maitre
Mathias, "I will tear that contract up if you do not take them."

She left the room in one of those furious passions which long for the
power to destroy everything, and which the sense of impotence drives
almost to madness.

"For Heaven's sake, take them, Paul," whispered Natalie in his ear. "My
mother is angry; I shall know why to-night, and I will tell you. We must
pacify her."

Calmed by this first outburst, madame kept the necklace and ear-rings,
which she was wearing, and brought the other jewels, valued at one
hundred and fifty thousand francs by Elie Magus. Accustomed to the sight
of family diamonds in all valuations of inheritance, Maitre Mathias and
Solonet examined these jewels in their cases and exclaimed upon their
duty.

"You will lose nothing, after all, upon the 'dot,' Monsieur le comte,"
said Solonet, bringing the color to Paul's face.

"Yes," said Mathias, "these jewels will meet the first payment on the
purchase of the new estate."

"And the costs of the contract," added Solonet.

Hatred feeds, like love, on little things; the least thing strengthens
it; as one beloved can do no evil, so the person hated can do no good.
Mada