s the rod before they
scourge him."

"You may feel quite satisfied," continued Solonet. "There are so many
enterprises going on in Bordeaux at this moment that investments for
annuities can be negotiated on very advantageous terms. After deducting
from the proceeds of the house and furniture the hundred and fifty
thousand francs we owe you, I think I can guarantee to madame that two
hundred and fifty thousand will remain to her. I take upon myself to
invest that sum in a first mortgage on property worth a million, and
to obtain ten per cent for it,--twenty-five thousand francs a year.
Consequently, we are marrying on nearly equal fortunes. In fact, against
your forty-six thousand francs a year, Mademoiselle Natalie brings you
forty thousand a year in the Five-per-cents, and one hundred and fifty
thousand in a round sum, which gives, in all, forty-seven thousand
francs a year."

"That is evident," said Paul.

As he ended his speech, Solonet had cast a sidelong glance at his
client, intercepted by Mathias, which meant: "Bring up your reserves."

"But," exclaimed Madame Evangelista, in tones of joy that did not seem
to be feigned, "I can give Natalie my diamonds; they are worth, at
least, a hundred thousand francs."

"We can have them appraised," said the notary. "This will change the
whole face of things. Madame can then keep the proceeds of her house,
all but fifty thousand francs. Nothing will prevent Monsieur le comte
from giving us a receipt in due form, as having received, in full,
Mademoiselle Natalie's inheritance from her father; this will close, of
course, the guardianship account. If madame, with Spanish generosity,
robs herself in this way to fulfil her obligations, the least that her
children can do is to give her a full receipt."

"Nothing could be more just than that," said Paul. "I am simply
overwhelmed by these generous proposals."

"My daughter is another myself," said Madame Evangelista, softly.

Maitre Mathias detected a look of joy on her face when she saw that
the difficulties were being removed: that joy, and the previous
forgetfulness of the diamonds, which were now brought forward like fresh
troops, confirmed his suspicions.

"The scene has been prepared between them as gamblers prepare the cards
to ruin a pigeon," thought the old notary. "Is this poor boy, whom I
saw born, doomed to be plucked alive by that woman, roasted by his very
love, and devoured by his wife? I, who have nursed th