I cannot see what bearing it has upon the subject."

"A very decided bearing, I should say," replied the attorney, not at all
disconcerted by what had happened.

"Perhaps if I had said a million, it were nearer the truth."

"Not a bit. You are still half a million out of the way, at least. Is it
not a million and a half?"

"It may be," said Jaspar, hesitating.

"Perhaps two millions."

"No," said Jaspar, decidedly.

"I suspected two was about the figure, but we will call it a million and
a half."

"Well, what then?" said Jaspar, impatiently.

"One-half of it would be a very pretty fortune," soliloquized De Guy,
loud enough to be heard by his companion.

"No doubt of it," replied Jaspar, with a ghastly smile, which betrayed
but little of the terrible agitation that racked him, as he heard these
words.

"But, Mr. Dumont, you are not a married man, you know, and one-third of
it would be very handsome for you."

"Very comfortable, indeed; and, no doubt, I ought to be very grateful to
you for allowing me so much."

"Exactly so. Gratitude is a sentiment worthy of cherishing. The fact is,
Mr. Dumont, I intend to marry; and, for a man of my expensive habits,
one-half is hardly an adequate share. You are a single man, and not
likely to change your condition at present, so that you can have no
possible use, either for yourself or for your heirs, for any more than
one-third."

"Your calculations are excellent!" said Jaspar, with a withering sneer.
"But suppose I should grumble at your taking the lion's share?"

"O, but, my dear sir, you will not grumble! Your sense of justice will
enable you to perceive the equity of this division."

"Enough of this! I am in no humor for jesting," said Jaspar, with a
frown.

"Jesting!" exclaimed the attorney, with a well-made gesture of
astonishment; "I was never more in earnest in my life."

"May I be allowed to inquire the name of your intended bride?" sneered
Jaspar.

"A very proper question; and, considering our intimate friendship, a
very natural one. Although my intention is a profound secret, and one I
should not like to have go abroad at present, especially as her nearest
of kin might possibly object, still I shall venture to inform _you_,
since you are to have the honor of providing the means of carrying my
matrimonial designs into effect."

"I am certainly under obligations for your favorable consideration. But
the lady's name?"

"Miss Emily Dumont! a beauti