. "The Dutchman who lives there has
put it in good order, and now that he is obliged to return to India, he
would probably let us have it for thirty thousand francs."

"We shall be close to Champagne," said Moreau. "I am in hopes of buying
the farm and mill of Mours for a hundred thousand francs. That would
give us ten thousand a year in rentals. Nogent is one of the most
delightful residences in the valley; and we should still have an income
of ten thousand from the Grand-Livre."

"But why don't you ask for the post of juge-de-paix at Isle-Adam? That
would give us influence, and fifteen hundred a year salary."

"Well, I did think of it."

With these plans in mind, Moreau, as soon as he heard from the count
that he was coming to Presles, and wished him to invite Margueron to
dinner on Saturday, sent off an express to the count's head-valet,
inclosing a letter to his master, which the messenger failed to deliver
before Monsieur de Serizy retired at his usually early hour. Augustin,
however, placed it, according to custom in such cases, on his master's
desk. In this letter Moreau begged the count not to trouble himself to
come down, but to trust entirely to him. He added that Margueron was no
longer willing to sell the whole in one block, and talked of cutting the
farm up into a number of smaller lots. It was necessary to circumvent
this plan, and perhaps, added Moreau, it might be best to employ a third
party to make the purchase.

Everybody has enemies in this life. Now the steward and his wife had
wounded the feelings of a retired army officer, Monsieur de Reybert, and
his wife, who were living near Presles. From speeches like pin-pricks,
matters had advanced to dagger-thrusts. Monsieur de Reybert breathed
vengeance. He was determined to make Moreau lose his situation and
gain it himself. The two ideas were twins. Thus the proceedings of the
steward, spied upon for two years, were no secret to Reybert. The same
conveyance that took Moreau's letter to the count conveyed Madame de
Reybert, whom her husband despatched to Paris. There she asked with such
earnestness to see the count that although she was sent away at nine
o'clock, he having then gone to bed, she was ushered into his study the
next morning at seven.

"Monsieur," she said to the cabinet-minister, "we are incapable, my
husband and I, of writing anonymous letters, therefore I have come to
see you in person. I am Madame de Reybert, nee de Corroy. My husba