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taking of Algiers。 Evidently Savinien had taken the city。 The doctor；
who had been watching them from his window as he dressed； soon came
down。 Without telling the viscount everything； he did say that； in
case Madame de Portenduere consented to his marriage with Ursula； the
fortune of his godchild would make his naval pay superfluous。
〃Alas！〃 said Savinien。 〃It will take a great deal of time to overcome
my mother's opposition。 Before I left her to enter the navy she was
placed between two alternatives；either to consent to my marrying
Ursula or else to see me only from time to time and to know me exposed
to the dangers of the profession； and you see she chose to let me go。〃
〃But； Savinien； we shall be together；〃 said Ursula； taking his hand
and shaking it with a sort of impatience。
To see each other and not to part；that was the all of love to her；
she saw nothing beyond it； and her pretty gesture and the petulant
tone of her voice expressed such innocence that Savinien and the
doctor were both moved by it。 The resignation was written and
despatched； and Ursula's fete received full glory from the presence of
her betrothed。 A few months later； towards the month of May； the home…
life of the doctor's household had resumed the quite tenor of its way
but with one welcome visitor the more。 The attentions of the young
viscount were soon interpreted in the town as those of a future
husband；all the more because his manners and those of Ursula；
whether in church； or on the promenade； though dignified and reserved；
betrayed the understanding of their hearts。 Dionis pointed out to the
heirs that the doctor had never asked Madame de Portenduere for the
interest of his money； three years of which was now due。
〃She'll be forced to yield； and consent to this derogatory marriage of
her son；〃 said the notary。 〃If such a misfortune happens it is
probable that the greater part of your uncle's fortune will serve for
what Basile calls 'an irresistible argument。'〃
CHAPTER XIV
URSULA AGAIN ORPHANED
The irritation of the heirs； when convinced that their uncle loved
Ursula too well not to secure her happiness at their expense； became
as underhand as it was bitter。 Meeting in Dionis's salon （as they had
done every evening since the revolution of 1830） they inveighed
against the lovers； and seldom separated without discussing some way
of circumventing the old man。 Zelie； who had doubtless profited by the
fall in the Funds； as the doctor had done； to invest some； at least；
of her enormous gains； was bitterest of them all against the orphan
girl and the Portendueres。 One evening； when Goupil； who usually
avoided the dullness of these meetings； had come in to learn something
of the affairs of the town which were under discussion； Zelie's hatred
was freshly excited； she had seen the doctor； Ursula； and Savinien
returning in the caleche from a country drive； with an air of intimacy
that told all。
〃I'd give thirty thousand francs if God would call uncle to himself
before the marriage of young Portenduere with that affected minx can
take place；〃 she said。
Goupil accompanied Monsieur and Madame Minoret to the middle of their
great courtyard； and there said； looking round to see if they were
quite alone：
〃Will you give me the means of buying Dionis's practice？ If you will；
I will break off the marriage between Portenduere and Ursula。〃
〃How？〃 asked the colossus。
〃Do you think I am such a fool as to tell you my plan？〃 said the
notary's head clerk。
〃Well； my lad； separate them； and we'll see what we can do；〃 said
Zelie。
〃I don't embark in any such business on a 'we'll see。' The young man
is a fire…eater who might kill me； I ought to be rough…shod and as
good a hand with a sword or a pistol as he is。 Set me up in business；
and I'll keep my word。〃
〃Prevent the marriage and I will set you up；〃 said the post master。
〃It is nine months since you have been thinking of lending me a paltry
fifteen thousand francs to buy Lecoeur's practice； and you expect me
to trust you now！ Nonsense； you'll lose your uncle's property； and
serve you right。〃
〃It if were only a matter of fifteen thousand francs and Lecoeur's
practice； that might be managed；〃 said Zelie； 〃but to give security
for you in a hundred and fifty thousand is another thing。〃
〃But I'll do my part；〃 said Goupil； flinging a seductive look at
Zelie； which encountered the imperious glance of the post mistress。
The effect was that of venom on steel。
〃We can wait；〃 said Zelie。
〃The devil's own spirit is in you；〃 thought Goupil。 〃If I ever catch
that pair in my power；〃 he said to himself as he left the yard； 〃I'll
squeeze them like lemons。〃
By cultivating the society of the doctor； the abbe； and Monsieur
Bongrand； Savinien proved the excellence of his character。 The love of
this young man for Ursula； so devoid of self…interest； and so
persistent； interested the three friends deeply； and they now never
separated the lovers in their thoughts。 Soon the monotony of this
patriarchal life； and the certainty of a future before them； gave to
their affection a fraternal character。 The doctor often left the pair
alone together。 He judged the young man rightly； he saw him kiss her
hand on arriving； but he knew he would ask no kiss when alone with
her； so deeply did the lover respect the innocence； the frankness of
the young girl； whose excessive sensibility； often tried； taught him
that a harsh word； a cold look； or the alternations of gentleness and
roughness might kill her。 The only freedom between the two took place
before the eyes of the old man in the evenings。
Two years； full of secret happiness； passed thus；without other
events than the fruitless efforts made by the young man to obtain from
his mother her consent to his marriage。 He talked to her sometimes for
hours together。 She listened and made no answer to his entreaties；
other than by Breton silence or a positive denial。
At nineteen years of age Ursula； elegant in appearance； a fine
musician； and well brought up； had nothing more to learn； she was
perfected。 The fame of her beauty and grace and education spread far。
The doctor was called upon to decline the overtures of Madame
d'Aiglemont； who was thinking of Ursula for her eldest son。 Six months
later； in spite of the secrecy the doctor and Ursula maintained on
this subject； Savinien heard of it。 Touched by so much delicacy； he
made use of the incident in another attempt to vanquish his mother's
obstinacy； but she merely replied：
〃If the d'Aiglemonts choose to ally themselves ill； is that any reason
why we should do so？〃
In December； 1834； the kind and now truly pious old doctor； then
eighty…eight years old； declined visibly。 When seen out of doors； his
face pinched and wan and his eyes pale； all the town talked of his
approaching death。 〃You'll soon know results；〃 said the community to