ace in the
passage amid the cries of Gothon, M. Renault and the poor old lady, who
was screaming: "Murder!" Leon wrestled, kicked, and from time to time
launched a vigorous blow into the body of his antagonist. He had to
succumb, nevertheless; the Colonel finished by upsetting him on the
ground and holding him there. Then he kissed him on both cheeks and said
to him:

"Ah! You naughty boy! Now I'm pretty sure to make you listen to me! I am
Clementine's grandfather, and I give her to you in marriage, and you can
have the wedding to-morrow if you want to! Do you hear? Now get up, and
don't you punch me in the stomach any more. It would be almost
parricide!"

Mlle. Sambucco and Clementine arrived in the midst of the general
stupefaction. They completed the recital of Fougas, who had gotten
himself pretty badly mixed up in the genealogy. Leon's seconds appeared
in their turn. They had not found the enemy in the hotel where he had
taken up his quarters, and came to give an account of their mission. A
tableau of perfect happiness met their astonished gaze, and Leon invited
them to the wedding.

"My friends," said Fougas, "you shall see undeceived Nature bless the
chains of Love."

CHAPTER XX.

A THUNDERBOLT FROM A CLEAR SKY.

"Mlle. Virginie Sambucco has the honor to announce to
you the marriage of Mlle. Clementine Sambucco, her
niece, to M. Leon Renault, civil engineer.

"M. and Mme. Renault have the honor to announce to you
the marriage of M. Leon Renault, their son, to Mlle.
Clementine Sambucco;

"And invite you to be present at the nuptial benediction
which will be given them on the 11th of September, 1859,
in the church of Saint Maxcence, in their parish, at
eleven o'clock precisely."

Fougas absolutely insisted that his name should figure on the cards.
They had all the trouble in the world to cure him of this whim. Mme.
Renault lectured him two full hours. She told him that in the eyes of
society, as well as in the eyes of the law, Clementine was the
granddaughter of M. Langevin; that, moreover, M. Langevin had acted very
liberally in legitimizing by marriage, a daughter that was not his own;
finally, that the publication of such a family secret would be an
outrage against the sanctity of the grave and would tarnish the memory
of poor Clementine Pichon. The Colonel answered with the warmth of a
young man, and the obstinacy of an old one:

"Nature has her ri