as the beloved son, and possessed
the esteem of the whole town. I had attained my supreme object, and it
would be wearisome to describe the variety of my enjoyments.

Letters had arrived from London to the Mareschale de Montreval, as
governor of the province, for my late father, together with the deeds
of a large inheritance left him by a brother who had died in the West
Indies. I hastened for a few days to Nismes to the mareschale by his
order. He only showed me the letter from the London banker and a copy
of the will, without being able to give me any further particulars.

The property had been already remitted to the government of Languedoc
by draughts on the bank in Paris. This made me the possessor of an
annual income of 4000 livres.

Although aware that one of my uncles, in his early days, had gone to
America, from whence no news had ever arrived, I could scarcely believe
that he had saved so large a fortune. Moreover the obscurity which
enveloped several points requisite to be known in the account from
London, inspired me with some suspicion as to this unexpected wealth,
considered as an inheritance, though it appeared to me too large for a
present. I wrote both to the London banker and the magistrate of the
province in America, where my uncle was reported to have died; but
never discovered more than I knew already. Hence I could not help
thinking that Madame Bertollon had more to do with the inheritance than
my uncle.

The mareschale appeared almost angry at my scruples. "Enjoy your
undisputed property and have a dozen masses for uncle," he said; "and
that you may not live altogether idle on your property, come to me and
accept the first situation in my office. One condition, however, I
must make, viz: that you live in my palace. I must see you daily, my
affairs are numerous, and your advice will be valuable to me."

I thanked the mareschale for this honourable distinction, and only
asked time for consideration before accepting a situation to which my
attainments were not adequate. He overwhelmed me with civilities, and
dismissed me with kindly menaces in case I did not soon resolve to
comply with his wishes.

M. Etienne, my good old uncle, was elated with joy when he heard of the
mareschale's offer to me.

"When you, Colas, came to me as a boy, in your smock-frock and wooden
shoes, and so stood before me in your poverty, I was then touched in my
heart, and heard, as it were, the voice of the