按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
approaching death。 〃You'll soon know results；〃 said the community to
the heirs。 In truth the old man's death had all the attraction of a
problem。 But the doctor himself did not know he was ill； he had his
illusions； and neither poor Ursula nor Savinien nor Bongrand nor the
abbe were willing to enlighten him as to his condition。 The Nemours
doctor who came to see him every day did not venture to prescribe。 Old
Minoret felt no pain； his lamp of life was gently going it。 His mind
continued firm and clear and powerful。 In old men thus constituted the
soul governs the body； and gives it strength to die erect。 The abbe；
anxious not to hasten the fatal end； released his parishioner from the
duty of hearing mass in church； and allowed him to read the services
at home； for the doctor faithfully attended to all his religious
duties。 The nearer he came to the grave the more he loved God； the
lights eternal shone upon all difficulties and explained them more and
more clearly to his mind。 Early in the year Ursula persuaded him to
sell the carriage and horses and dismiss Cabirolle。 Monsieur Bongrand；
whose uneasiness about Ursula's future was far from quieted by the
doctor's half…confidence； boldly opened the subject one evening and
showed his old friend the importance of making Ursula legally of age。
Still the old man； though he had often consulted the justice of peace；
would not reveal to him the secret of his provision for Ursula； though
he agreed to the necessity of securing her independence by majority。
The more Monsieur Bongrand persisted in his efforts to discover the
means selected by his old friend to provide for his darling the more
wary the doctor became。
〃Why not secure the thing；〃 said Bongrand； 〃why run any risks？〃
〃When you are between two risks；〃 replied the doctor； 〃avoid the most
risky。〃
Bongrand carried through the business of making Ursula of age so
promptly that the papers were ready by the day she was twenty。 That
anniversary was the last pleasure of the old doctor who； seized
perhaps with a presentiment of his end； gave a little ball； to which
he invited all the young people in the families of Dionis； Cremiere；
Minoret； and Massin。 Savinien； Bongrand； the abbe and his two
assistant priests； the Nemours doctor； and Mesdames Zelie Minoret；
Massin； and Cremiere； together with old Schmucke； were the guests at a
grand dinner which preceded the ball。
〃I feel I am going；〃 said the old man to the notary towards the close
of the evening。 〃I beg you to come to…morrow and draw up my
guardianship account with Ursula； so as not to complicate my property
after my death。 Thank God！ I have not withdrawn one penny from my
heirs；I have disposed of nothing but my income。 Messieurs Cremiere；
Massin； and Minoret my nephew are members of the family council
appointed for Ursula； and I wish them to be present at the rendering
of my account。〃
These words； heard by Massin and quickly passed from one to another
round the ball…room； poured balm into the minds of the three families；
who had lived in perpetual alternations of hope and fear； sometimes
thinking they were certain of wealth； oftener that they were
disinherited。
When； about two in the morning； the guests were all gone and no one
remained in the salon but Savinien； Bongrand； and the abbe； the old
doctor said； pointing to Ursula； who was charming in her ball dress；
〃To you； my friends； I confide her！ A few days more； and I shall be
here no longer to protect her。 Put yourselves between her and the
world until she is married；I fear for her。〃
The words made a painful impression。 The guardian's account； rendered
a day or two later in presence of the family council； showed that
Doctor Minoret owed a balance to his ward of ten thousand six hundred
francs from the bequest of Monsieur de Jordy； and also from a little
capital of gifts made by the doctor himself to Ursula during the last
fifteen years； on birthdays and other anniversaries。
This formal rendering of the account was insisted on by the justice of
the peace； who feared （unhappily； with too much reason） the results of
Doctor Minoret's death。
The following day the old man was seized with a weakness which
compelled him to keep his bed。 In spite of the reserve which always
surrounded the doctor's house and kept it from observation； the news
of his approaching death spread through the town； and the heirs began
to run hither and thither through the streets； like the pearls of a
chaplet when the string is broken。 Massin called at the house to learn
the truth； and was told by Ursula herself that the doctor was in bed。
The Nemours doctor had remarked that whenever old Minoret took to his
bed he would die； and therefore in spite of the cold； the heirs took
their stand in the street； on the square； at their own doorsteps；
talking of the event so long looked for； and watching for the moment
when the priests should appear； bearing the sacrament； with all the
paraphernalia customary in the provinces； to the dying man。
Accordingly； two days later； when the Abbe Chaperon； with an assistant
and the choir…boys； preceded by the sacristan bearing the cross；
passed along the Grand'Rue； all the heirs joined the procession； to
get an entrance to the house and see that nothing was abstracted； and
lay their eager hands upon its coveted treasures at the earliest
moment。
When the doctor saw； behind the clergy； the row of kneeling heirs； who
instead of praying were looking at him with eyes that were brighter
than the tapers； he could not restrain a smile。 The abbe turned round；
saw them； and continued to say the prayers slowly。 The post master was
the first to abandon the kneeling posture； his wife followed him。
Massin； fearing that Zelie and her husband might lay hands on some
ornament； joined them in the salon； where all the heirs were presently
assembled one by one。
〃He is too honest a man to steal extreme unction；〃 said Cremiere； 〃we
may be sure of his death now。〃
〃Yes； we shall each get about twenty thousand francs a year；〃 replied
Madame Massin。
〃I have an idea；〃 said Zelie； 〃that for the last three years he hasn't
invested anythinghe grew fond of hoarding。〃
〃Perhaps the money is in the cellar；〃 whispered Massin to Cremiere。
〃I hope we shall be able to find it；〃 said Minoret…Levrault。
〃But after what he said at the ball we can't have any doubt；〃 cried
Madame Massin。
〃In any case；〃 began Cremiere； 〃how shall we manage？ Shall we divide；
shall we go to law； or could we draw lots？ We are adults； you know〃
A discussion； which soon became angry； now arose as to the method of
procedure。 At the end of half an hour a perfect uproar of voices；
Zelie's screeching organ detaching itself from the rest； resounded in
the courtyard and even in the street。
The noise reached the doctor's ears； he heard the words； 〃The house
the house is worth thirty thousand francs。 I'll take it at