master of French elegance."

"And as the Deputies have credit for possessing very elevated, very
artistic, and very magnificent ideas, of course it will be voted by
acclamation."

"Whilst we are waiting the decision which shall establish as a right the
supremacy which Saint-Remy exercises in fact," said M. d'Harville, "I
will ask him his opinion as to the gallery which I propose to erect; for
I have been struck with his ideas as to the right splendour of fetes."

"My faint lights are at your service, D'Harville."

"And when shall we commence our magnificences, my dear fellow?"

"Next year, I suppose, for I intend to begin my works without delay."

"How full of projects you are!"

"_Ma foi!_ I have others also; I contemplate an entire alteration of
Val-Richer."

"Your estate in Burgundy?"

"Yes; there is much that may be done there, if, indeed, God grants me
life."

"Poor old fellow!"

"Have you not recently bought a farm near Val-Richer to complete your
ring-fence?"

"Yes, a very nice thing, to which I was advised by my notary."

"And who is this rare and precious notary who advises such admirable
purchases?"

"M. Jacques Ferrand."

At this name a slight shudder came over M. de Saint-Remy, and he frowned
imperceptibly.

"Is he really the honest man they call him?" he inquired, carelessly, of
M. d'Harville, who then remembered what Rodolph had related to Clemence
about the notary.

"Jacques Ferrand? What a question! Why, his honesty is a proverb," said
M. de Lucenay.

"As respected as respectable."

"And very pious; which does him no harm."

"Excessively stingy; which is a guarantee for his clients."

"In fact, he is one of the notaries of the 'old rock,' who ask you whom
you take them for when you ask them for a receipt for the money which
you place in their hands."

"That would have no effect on me; I would trust him with my whole
fortune."

"But where the deuce did Saint-Remy imbibe his doubts with respect to
this honest man, whose integrity is proverbial?"

"I am but the echo of certain vague reports; besides, I have no reason
for running down this phoenix of notaries. But to return to your
plans, D'Harville, what is it you wish to build at Val-Richer? I have
heard that the chateau is excessively beautiful."

"Make yourself easy, my dear Saint-Remy, for you shall be consulted, and
sooner than you expect, perhaps, for I take much pleasure in such works.
I think that there is nothing