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Portenduere suddenly； and made her suspect that the doctor's apparent
generosity masked an ambitious scheme。 She had made the speech to
which Savinien replied with the intention of wounding the doctor in
that which was dearest to him； and she succeeded； though the old man
could hardly restrain a smile as he heard himself styled a
〃chevalier；〃 amused to observe how the eagerness of a lover did not
shrink from absurdity。
〃The order of Saint…Michel which in former days men committed follies
to obtain；〃 he said； 〃has now； Monsieur le vicomte； gone the way of
other privileges！ It is given only to doctors and poor artists。 The
kings have done well to join it to that of Saint…Lazare who was； I
believe； a poor devil recalled to life by a miracle。 From this point
of view the order of Saint…Michel and Saint…Lazare may be； for many of
us； symbolic。〃
After this reply； at once sarcastic and dignified； silence reigned；
which； as no one seemed inclined to break it； was becoming awkward；
when there was a rap at the door。
〃There is our dear abbe；〃 said the old lady； who rose； leaving Ursula
alone； and advancing to meet the Abbe Chaperon；an honor she had not
paid to the doctor and his niece。
The old man smiled to himself as he looked from his goddaughter to
Savinien。 To show offence or to complain of Madame de Portenduere's
manners was a rock on which a man of small mind might have struck； but
Minoret was too accomplished in the ways of the world not to avoid it。
He began to talk to the viscount of the danger Charles X。 was then
running by confiding the affairs of the nation to the Prince de
Polignac。 When sufficient time had been spent on the subject to avoid
all appearance of revenging himself by so doing； he handed the old
lady； in an easy； jesting way； a packet of legal papers and receipted
bills； together with the account of his notary。
〃Has my son verified them？〃 she said； giving Savinien a look； to which
he replied by bending his head。 〃Well； then the rest is my notary's
business；〃 she added； pushing away the papers and treating the affair
with the disdain she wished to show for money。
To abase wealth was； according to Madame de Portenduere's ideas； to
elevate the nobility and rob the bourgeoisie of their importance。
A few moments later Goupil came from his employer； Dionis； to ask for
the accounts of the transaction between the doctor and Savinien。
〃Why do you want them？〃 said the old lady。
〃To put the matter in legal form； there have been no cash payments。〃
Ursula and Savinien； who both for the first time exchanged a glance
with offensive personage； were conscious of a sensation like that of
touching a toad； aggravated by a dark presentiment of evil。 They both
had the same indefinable and confused vision into the future； which
has no name in any language； but which is capable of explanation as
the action of the inward being of which the mysterious Swedenborgian
had spoken to Doctor Minoret。 The certainty that the venomous Goupil
would in some way be fatal to them made Ursula tremble； but she
controlled herself； conscious of unspeakable pleasure in seeing that
Savinien shared her emotion。
〃He is not handsome； that clerk of Monsieur Dionis；〃 said Savinien；
when Goupil had closed the door。
〃What does it signify whether such persons are handsome or ugly？〃 said
Madame de Portenduere。
〃I don't complain of his ugliness；〃 said the abbe； 〃but I do of his
wickedness； which passes all bounds； he is a villain。〃
The doctor； in spite of his desire to be amiable； grew cold and
dignified。 The lovers were embarrassed。 If it had not been for the
kindly good…humor of the abbe； whose gentle gayety enlivened the
dinner； the position of the doctor and his niece would have been
almost intolerable。 At dessert； seeing Ursula turn pale； he said to
her：
〃If you don't feel well； dear child； we have only the street to
cross。〃
〃What is the matter； my dear？〃 said the old lady to the girl。
〃Madame；〃 said the doctor severely； 〃her soul is chilled； accustomed
as she is to be met by smiles。〃
〃A very bad education； monsieur；〃 said Madame de Portenduere。 〃Is it
not； Monsieur l'abbe？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered Minoret； with a look at the abbe； who knew not how to
reply。 〃I have； it is true； rendered life unbearable to an angelic
spirit if she has to pass it in the world； but I trust I shall not die
until I place her in security； safe from coldness； indifference； and
hatred〃
〃Oh； godfatherI beg of yousay no more。 There is nothing the matter
with me；〃 cried Ursula； meeting Madame de Portenduere's eyes rather
than give too much meaning to her words by looking at Savinien。
〃I cannot know； madame；〃 said Savinien to his mother； 〃whether
Mademoiselle Ursula suffers； but I do know that you are torturing me。〃
Hearing these words； dragged from the generous young man by his
mother's treatment of herself； Ursula turned pale and begged Madame de
Portenduere to excuse her； then she took her uncle's arm； bowed； left
the room； and returned home。 Once there； she rushed to the salon and
sat down to the piano； put her head in her hands； and burst into
tears。
〃Why don't you leave the management of your affairs to my old
experience； cruel child？〃 cried the doctor in despair。 〃Nobles never
think themselves under any obligations to the bourgeoisie。 When we do
them a service they consider that we do our duty； and that's all。
Besides； the old lady saw that you looked favorably on Savinien； she
is afraid he will love you。〃
〃At any rate he is saved！〃 said Ursula。 〃But ah！ to try to humiliate a
man like you！〃
〃Wait till I return； my child；〃 said the old man leaving her。
When the doctor re…entered Madame de Portenduere's salon he found
Dionis the notary； accompanied by Monsieur Bongrand and the mayor of
Nemours； witnesses required by law for the validity of deeds in all
communes where there is but one notary。 Minoret took Monsieur Dionis
aside and said a word in his ear； after which the notary read the
deeds aloud officially； from which it appeared that Madame de
Portenduere gave a mortgage on all her property to secure payment of
the hundred thousand francs； the interest on which was fixed at five
per cent。 At the reading of this last clause the abbe looked at
Minoret； who answered with an approving nod。 The poor priest whispered
something in the old lady's ear to which she replied；
〃I will owe nothing to such persons。〃
〃My mother leaves me the nobler part；〃 said Savinien to the doctor；
〃she will repay the money and charges me to show our gratitude。〃
〃But you will have to pay eleven thousand francs the first year to
meet the interest and the legal costs；〃 said the abbe。
〃Monsieur；〃 said Minoret to Dionis； 〃as Monsieur and Madame de
Portenduere are not in a condition to pay those costs； add them to the
amount of the mortgage and I will pay them。〃
Dionis made