too well not to secure her happiness at their expense, became as
underhand as it was bitter. Meeting in Dionis's salon (as they had done
every evening since the revolution of 1830) they inveighed against
the lovers, and seldom separated without discussing some way of
circumventing the old man. Zelie, who had doubtless profited by the fall
in the Funds, as the doctor had done, to invest some, at least, of her
enormous gains, was bitterest of them all against the orphan girl and
the Portendueres. One evening, when Goupil, who usually avoided the
dullness of these meetings, had come in to learn something of the
affairs of the town which were under discussion, Zelie's hatred was
freshly excited; she had seen the doctor, Ursula, and Savinien returning
in the caleche from a country drive, with an air of intimacy that told
all.

"I'd give thirty thousand francs if God would call uncle to himself
before the marriage of young Portenduere with that affected minx can
take place," she said.

Goupil accompanied Monsieur and Madame Minoret to the middle of their
great courtyard, and there said, looking round to see if they were quite
alone:

"Will you give me the means of buying Dionis's practice? If you will, I
will break off the marriage between Portenduere and Ursula."

"How?" asked the colossus.

"Do you think I am such a fool as to tell you my plan?" said the
notary's head clerk.

"Well, my lad, separate them, and we'll see what we can do," said Zelie.

"I don't embark in any such business on a 'we'll see.' The young man is
a fire-eater who might kill me; I ought to be rough-shod and as good a
hand with a sword or a pistol as he is. Set me up in business, and I'll
keep my word."

"Prevent the marriage and I will set you up," said the post master.

"It is nine months since you have been thinking of lending me a paltry
fifteen thousand francs to buy Lecoeur's practice, and you expect me to
trust you now! Nonsense; you'll lose your uncle's property, and serve
you right."

"It if were only a matter of fifteen thousand francs and Lecoeur's
practice, that might be managed," said Zelie; "but to give security for
you in a hundred and fifty thousand is another thing."

"But I'll do my part," said Goupil, flinging a seductive look at Zelie,
which encountered the imperious glance of the post mistress.

The effect was that of venom on steel.

"We can wait," said Zelie.

"The devil's own spirit is in you," thought Goupil. "