er,
clapping his hands upon his stomach. "I would not have missed that
Easter pie--no, not to draw the Pope's will! But, as it is laid down in
the Coutume d' Orleans (Tit. 17), the absent lose the usufruct of their
rights; vide, also, Pothier des Successions--I lost my share of the pie
of Belmont!"

"Well, never mind, Master Pothier," replied Max. "Don't grieve; you
shall go with us to-night to the Fleur-de-Lis in the Sault au Matelot.
Bartemy and I have bespoken an eel pie and a gallon of humming cider of
Normandy. We shall all be jolly as the marguilliers of Ste. Roche, after
tithing the parish!"

"Have with you, then! I am free now: I have just delivered a letter to
the Intendant from a lady at Beaumanoir, and got a crown for it. I will
lay it on top of your eel pie, Max!"

Angelique, from being simply amused at the conversation of the old
beggars, became in an instant all eyes and ears at the words of Master
Pothier.

"Had you ever the fortune to see that lady at Beaumanoir?" asked Max,
with more curiosity than was to be expected of one in his position.

"No; the letter was handed me by Dame Tremblay, with a cup of wine. But
the Intendant gave me a crown when he read it. I never saw the Chevalier
Bigot in better humor! That letter touched both his purse and his
feelings. But how did you ever come to hear of the Lady of Beaumanoir?"

"Oh, Bartemy and I hear everything at the gate of the Basse Ville! My
Lord Bishop and Father Glapion of the Jesuits met in the gate one day
and spoke of her, each asking the other if he knew who she was--when up
rode the Intendant; and the Bishop made free, as Bishops will, you know,
to question him whether he kept a lady at the Chateau.

"'A round dozen of them, my Lord Bishop!' replied Bigot, laughing. La!
It takes the Intendant to talk down a Bishop! He bade my Lord not to
trouble himself, the lady was under his tutelle! which I comprehended as
little, as little--"

"As you do your Nominy Dominy!" replied Pothier. "Don't be angry, Max,
if I infer that the Intendant quoted Pigean (Tit. 2, 27): 'Le Tuteur est
comptable de sa gestion.'"

"I don't care what the pigeons have to say to it--that is what the
Intendant said!" replied Max, hotly, "and THAT, for your law grimoire,
Master Pothier!" Max snapped his fingers like the lock of his musket at
Prague, to indicate what he meant by THAT!

"Oh, inepte loquens! you don't understand either law or Latin, Max!"
exclaimed Pothier, s