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mother…in…law without means？ Though Madame has certainly run through
her fortune； she is still able to make good that of her daughter； or
very nearly so。〃
〃Women are most unfortunate in having no knowledge of business；〃 said
Madame Evangelista。 〃Have I titles to property？ and what are life…
interests？〃
Paul was in a sort of ecstasy as he listened to this proposed
arrangement。 The old notary； seeing the trap； and his client with one
foot caught in it； was petrified for a moment； as he said to
himself：
〃I am certain they are tricking us。〃
〃If madame will follow my advice；〃 said Solonet； 〃she will secure her
own tranquillity。 By sacrificing herself in this way she may be sure
that no minors will ultimately harass herfor we never know who may
live and who may die！ Monsieur le comte will then give due
acknowledgment in the marriage contract of having received the sum
total of Mademoiselle Evangelista's patrimonial inheritance。〃
Mathias could not restrain the indignation which shone in his eyes and
flushed his face。
〃And that sum；〃 he said； shaking； 〃is〃
〃One million； one hundred and fifty…six thousand francs according to
the document〃
〃Why don't you ask Monsieur le comte to make over 'hic et nunc' his
whole fortune to his future wife？〃 said Mathias。 〃It would be more
honest than what you now propose。 I will not allow the ruin of the
Comte de Manerville to take place under my very eyes〃
He made a step as if to address his client； who was silent throughout
this scene as if dazed by it； but he turned and said； addressing
Madame Evangelista：
〃Do not suppose； madame； that I think you a party to these ideas of my
brother notary。 I consider you an honest woman and a lady who knows
nothing of business。〃
〃Thank you； brother notary；〃 said Solonet。
〃You know that there can be no offence between you and me；〃 replied
Mathias。 〃Madame；〃 he added； 〃you ought to know the result of this
proposed arrangement。 You are still young and beautiful enough to
marry againAh！ madame；〃 said the old man； noting her gesture； 〃who
can answer for themselves on that point？〃
〃I did not suppose； monsieur；〃 said Madame Evangelista； 〃that； after
remaining a widow for the seven best years of my life； and refusing
the most brilliant offers for my daughter's sake； I should be
suspected of such a piece of folly as marrying again at thirty…nine
years of age。 If we were not talking business I should regard your
suggestion as an impertinence。〃
〃Would it not be more impertinent if I suggested that you could not
marry again？〃
〃Can and will are separate terms；〃 remarked Solonet； gallantly。
〃Well；〃 resumed Maitre Mathias； 〃we will say nothing of your marriage。
You may； and we all desire it； live for forty…five years to come。 Now；
if you keep for yourself the life…interest in your daughter's
patrimony； your children are laid on the shelf for the best years of
their lives。〃
〃What does that mean？〃 said the widow。 〃I don't understand being laid
on a shelf。〃
Solonet； the man of elegance and good taste； began to laugh。
〃I'll translate it for you；〃 said Mathias。 〃If your children are wise
they will think of the future。 To think of the future means laying by
half our income； provided we have only two children； to whom we are
bound to give a fine education and a handsome dowry。 Your daughter and
son…in…law will； therefore； be reduced to live on twenty thousand
francs a year； though each has spent fifty thousand while still
unmarried。 But that is nothing。 The law obliges my client to account；
hereafter； to his children for the eleven hundred and fifty…six
thousand francs of their mother's patrimony； yet he may not have
received them if his wife should die and madame should survive her；
which may very well happen。 To sign such a contract is to fling one's
self into the river； bound hand and foot。 You wish to make your
daughter happy； do you not？ If she loves her husband； a fact which
notaries never doubt； she will share his troubles。 Madame； I see
enough in this scheme to make her die of grief and anxiety； you are
consigning her to poverty。 Yes； madame； poverty； to persons accustomed
to the use of one hundred thousand francs a year； twenty thousand is
poverty。 Moreover； if Monsieur le comte； out of love for his wife；
were guilty of extravagance； she could ruin him by exercising her
rights when misfortunes overtook him。 I plead now for you； for them；
for their children； for every one。〃
〃The old fellow makes a lot of smoke with his cannon；〃 thought Maitre
Solonet； giving his client a look； which meant； 〃Keep on！〃
〃There is one way of combining all interests；〃 replied Madame
Evangelista； calmly。 〃I can reserve to myself only the necessary cost
of living in a convent； and my children can have my property at once。
I can renounce the world； if such anticipated death conduces to the
welfare of my daughter。〃
〃Madame；〃 said the old notary； 〃let us take time to consider and
weigh； deliberately； the course we had best pursue to conciliate all
interests。〃
〃Good heavens！ monsieur；〃 cried Madame Evangelista； who saw defeat in
delay； 〃everything has already been considered and weighed。 I was
ignorant of what the process of marriage is in France； I am a Spaniard
and a Creole。 I did not know that in order to marry my daughter it was
necessary to reckon up the days which God may still grant me； that my
child would suffer because I live； that I do harm by living； and by
having lived！ When my husband married me I had nothing but my name and
my person。 My name alone was a fortune to him； which dwarfed his own。
What wealth can equal that of a great name？ My dowry was beauty；
virtue； happiness； birth； education。 Can money give those treasures？
If Natalie's father could overhear this conversation； his generous
soul would be wounded forever； and his happiness in paradise
destroyed。 I dissipated； foolishly； perhaps； a few of his millions
without a quiver ever coming to his eyelids。 Since his death； I have
grown economical and orderly in comparison with the life he encouraged
me to leadCome； let us break this thing off！ Monsieur de Manerville
is so disappointed that I〃
No descriptive language can express the confusion and shock which the
words； 〃break off；〃 introduced into the conversation。 It is enough to
say that these four apparently well…bred persons all talked at once。
〃In Spain people marry in the Spanish fashion； or as they please； but
in France they marry according to French law； sensibly； and as best
they can；〃 said Mathias。
〃Ah； madame；〃 cried Paul； coming out of his stupefaction； 〃you mistake
my feelings。〃
〃This is not a matter of feeling；〃 said the old notary； trying to stop
his client from concessions。 〃We are concerned now with the interests
and welfare of three generations。 Have WE wasted the missing millions？
We are simply endeavoring to solve difficulties of w