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reasoning； 〃If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her
godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough
to make him leave her his property；〃 was now stamped in letters of
fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir。 The post master had
forgotten about his son in his hurry to reach the square； for if the
doctor were really in the church hearing mass it was a question of
losing two hundred and fifty thousand francs。 It must be admitted that
the fears of these relations came from the strongest and most
legitimate of social feelings； family interests。
〃Well； Monsieur Minoret；〃 said the mayor （formerly a miller who had
now become royalist； named Levrault…Cremiere）； 〃when the devil gets
old the devil a monk would be。 Your uncle； they say； is one of us。〃
〃Better late than never； cousin；〃 responded the post master； trying to
conceal his annoyance。
〃How that fellow will grin if we are defrauded！ He is capable of
marrying his son to that damned girlmay the devil get her！〃 cried
Cremiere； shaking his fists at the mayor as he entered the porch。
〃What's Cremiere grumbling about？〃 said the butcher of the town； a
Levrault…Levrault the elder。 〃Isn't he pleased to see his uncle on the
road to paradise？〃
〃Who would ever have believed it！〃 ejaculated Massin。
〃Ha！ one should never say； 'Fountain； I'll not drink of your water；'〃
remarked the notary； who； seeing the group from afar； had left his
wife to go to church without him。
〃Come； Monsieur Dionis；〃 said Cremiere； taking the notary by the arm；
〃what do you advise me to do under the circumstances？〃
〃I advise you；〃 said the notary； addressing the heirs collectively；
〃to go to bed and get up at your usual hour； to eat your soup before
it gets cold； to put your feet in your shoes and your hats on your
heads； in short； to continue your ways of life precisely as if nothing
had happened。〃
〃You are not consoling；〃 said Massin。
In spite of his squat； dumpy figure and heavy face； Cremiere…Dionis
was really as keen as a blade。 In pursuit of usurious fortune he did
business secretly with Massin； to whom he no doubt pointed out such
peasants as were hampered in means； and such pieces of land as could
be bought for a song。 The two men were in a position to choose their
opportunities； none that were good escaped them； and they shared the
profits of mortgage…usury； which retards； though it does not prevent；
the acquirement of the soil by the peasantry。 So Dionis took a lively
interest in the doctor's inheritance； not so much for the post master
and the collector as for his friend the clerk of the court； sooner or
later Massin's share in the doctor's money would swell the capital
with which these secret associates worked the canton。
〃We must try to find out through Monsieur Bongrand where the influence
comes from；〃 said the notary in a low voice； with a sign to Massin to
keep quiet。
〃What are you about； Minoret？〃 cried a little woman； suddenly
descending upon the group in the middle of which stood the post
master； as tall and round as a tower。 〃You don't know where Desire is
and there you are； planted on your two legs； gossiping about nothing；
when I thought you on horseback！Oh； good morning； Messieurs and
Mesdames。〃
This little woman； thin； pale； and fair； dressed in a gown of white
cotton with pattern of large； chocolate…colored flowers； a cap trimmed
with ribbon and frilled with lace； and wearing a small green shawl on
her flat shoulders； was Minoret's wife； the terror of postilions；
servants； and carters； who kept the accounts and managed the
establishment 〃with finger and eye〃 as they say in those parts。 Like
the true housekeeper that she was； she wore no ornaments。 She did not
give in （to use her own expression） to gew…gaws and trumpery； she held
to the solid and the substantial； and wore； even on Sundays； a black
apron； in the pocket of which she jingled her household keys。 Her
screeching voice was agony to the drums of all ears。 Her rigid glance；
conflicting with the soft blue of her eyes； was in visible harmony
with the thin lips of a pinched mouth and a high； projecting； and very
imperious forehead。 Sharp was the glance； sharper still both gesture
and speech。 〃Zelie being obliged to have a will for two； had it for
three；〃 said Goupil； who pointed out the successive reigns of three
young postilions； of neat appearance； who had been set up in life by
Zelie； each after seven years' service。 The malicious clerk named them
Postilion I。； Postilion II。； Postilion III。 But the little influence
these young men had in the establishment； and their perfect obedience
proved that Zelie was merely interested in worthy helpers。
This attempt at scandal was against probabilities。 Since the birth of
her son （nursed by her without any evidence of how it was possible for
her to do so） Madame Minoret had thought only of increasing the family
fortune and was wholly given up to the management of their immense
establishment。 To steal a bale of hay or a bushel of oats or get the
better of Zelie in even the most complicated accounts was a thing
impossible； though she scribbled hardly better than a cat； and knew
nothing of arithmetic but addition and subtraction。 She never took a
walk except to look at the hay； the oats； or the second crops。 She
sent 〃her man〃 to the mowing； and the postilions to tie the bales；
telling them the quantity； within a hundred pounds； each field should
bear。 Though she was the soul of that great body called Minoret…
Levrault and led him about by his pug nose； she was made to feel the
fears which occasionally （we are told） assail all tamers of wild
beasts。 She therefore made it a rule to get into a rage before he did；
the postilions knew very well when his wife had been quarreling with
him； for his anger ricocheted on them。 Madame Minoret was as clever as
she was grasping； and it was a favorite remark in the whole town；
〃Where would Minoret…Levrault be without his wife？〃
〃When you know what has happened；〃 replied the post master； 〃you'll be
over the traces yourself。〃
〃What is it？〃
〃Ursula has taken the doctor to mass。〃
Zelie's pupils dilated； she stood for a moment yellow with anger；
then； crying out； 〃I'll see it before I believe it！〃 she rushed into
the church。 The service had reached the Elevation。 The stillness of
the worshippers enabled her to look along each row of chairs and
benches as she went up the aisle beside the chapels to Ursula's place；
where she saw old Minoret standing with bared head。
If you recall the heads of Barbe…Marbois； Boissy d'Anglas； Morellet；
Helvetius； or Frederick the Great； you will see the exact image of
Doctor Minoret； whose green old age resembled that of those celebrated
personages。 Their heads coined in the same mint （for each had the
characteristics of a medal） showed a stern and quasi…puritan profile；
cold tones； a mathematical brain； a certain n