difficulties, to retreat from the affair to an
illimitable distance; and finally, that she had already acquired over
her future son-in-law a very remarkable ascendancy.

"If that is so," said Solonet, "tell me what are the utmost concessions
you are willing to make."

"I wish to make as few as possible," she answered, laughing.

"A woman's answer," cried Solonet. "Madame, are you anxious to marry
Mademoiselle Natalie?"

"Yes."

"And you want a receipt for the eleven hundred and fifty-six thousand
francs, for which you are responsible on the guardianship account which
the law obliges you to render to your son-in-law?"

"Yes."

"How much do you want to keep back?"

"Thirty thousand a year, at least."

"It is a question of conquer or die, is it?"

"It is."

"Well, then, I must reflect on the necessary means to that end; it
will need all our cleverness to manage our forces. I will give you some
instructions on my arrival this evening; follow them carefully, and I
think I may promise you a successful issue. Is the Comte de Manerville
in love with Mademoiselle Natalie?" he asked as he rose to take leave.

"He adores her."

"That is not enough. Does he desire her to the point of disregarding all
pecuniary difficulties?"

"Yes."

"That's what I call having a lien upon a daughter's property," cried the
notary. "Make her look her best to-night," he added with a sly glance.

"She has a most charming dress for the occasion."

"The marriage-contract dress is, in my opinion, half the battle," said
Solonet.

This last argument seemed so cogent to Madame Evangelista that she
superintended Natalie's toilet herself, as much perhaps to watch
her daughter as to make her the innocent accomplice of her financial
conspiracy.

With her hair dressed a la Sevigne and wearing a gown of white tulle
adorned with pink ribbons, Natalie seemed to her mother so beautiful
as to guarantee victory. When the lady's-maid left the room and Madame
Evangelista was certain that no one could overhear her, she arranged a
few curls on her daughter's head by way of exordium.

"Dear child," she said, in a voice that was firm apparently, "do you
sincerely love the Comte de Manerville?"

Mother and daughter cast strange looks at each other.

"Why do you ask that question, little mother? and to-day more than
yesterday> Why have you thrown me with him?"

"If you and I had to part forever would you still persist in the
marriage?"

"I sho