the proceeds of this house into an annuity,"
said Madame Evangelista, "but I shall do otherwise; I won't take a penny
of my fortune from you."
"I saw you were all very angry," said Natalie. "How did the tempest calm
down?"
"By an offer of my diamonds," replied Madame Evangelista. "Solonet was
right. How ably he conducted the whole affair. Get out my jewel-case,
Natalie. I have never seriously considered what my diamonds are worth.
When I said a hundred thousand francs I talked nonsense. Madame de Gyas
always declared that the necklace and ear-rings your father gave me on
our marriage day were worth at least that sum. My poor husband was so
lavish! Then my family diamond, the one Philip the Second gave to the
Duke of Alba, and which my aunt bequeathed to me, the 'Discreto,' was,
I think, appraised in former times at four thousand quadruples,--one of
our Spanish gold coins."
Natalie laid out upon her mother's toilet-table the pearl necklace,
the sets of jewels, the gold bracelets and precious stones of all
description, with that inexpressible sensation enjoyed by certain women
at the sight of such treasures, by which--so commentators on the Talmud
say--the fallen angels seduce the daughters of men, having sought these
flowers of celestial fire in the bowels of the earth.
"Certainly," said Madame Evangelista, "though I know nothing about
jewels except how to accept and wear them, I think there must be a great
deal of money in these. Then, if we make but one household, I can
sell my plate, the weight of which, as mere silver, would bring
thirty thousand francs. I remember when we brought it from Lima, the
custom-house officers weighed and appraised it. Solonet is right, I'll
send to-morrow to Elie Magus. The Jew shall estimate the value of these
things. Perhaps I can avoid sinking any of my fortune in an annuity."
"What a beautiful pearl necklace!" said Natalie.
"He ought to give it to you, if he loves you," replied her mother; "and
I think he might have all my other jewels reset and let you keep them.
The diamonds are a part of your property in the contract. And now,
good-night, my darling. After the fatigues of this day we both need
rest."
The woman of luxury, the Creole, the great lady, incapable of analyzing
the results of a contract which was not yet in force, went to sleep in
the joy of seeing her daughter married to a man who was easy to manage,
who would let them both be mistresses of his home, and wh
|