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the farm at Bordieres for two hundred and twenty thousand francs。
〃I'd buy it at once；〃 said Minoret； 〃if I were sure the Portendueres
would go and live somewhere else。〃
〃Why？〃 said the justice of peace。
〃We want to get rid of the nobles in Nemours。〃
〃I did hear the old lady say that if she could settle her affairs she
should go and live in Brittany； as she would not have means enough
left to live her。 She is thinking of selling her house。〃
〃Well； sell it to me；〃 said Minoret。
〃To you？〃 said Zelie。 〃You talk as if you were master of everything。
What do you want with two houses in Nemours？〃
〃If I don't settle this matter of the farm with you to…night；〃 said
Bongrand； 〃our lease will get known； Massin will put in a fresh claim；
and I shall lose this chance of liquidation which I am anxious to
make。 So if you don't take my offer I shall go at once to Melun； where
some farmers I know are ready to buy the farm with their eyes shut。〃
〃Why did you come to us； then？〃 said Zelie。
〃Because you can pay me in cash； and my other clients would make me
wait some time for the money。 I don't want difficulties。〃
〃Get HER out of Nemours and I'll pay it；〃 exclaimed Minoret。
〃You understand that I cannot answer for Madame de Portenduere's
actions；〃 said Bongrand。 〃I can only repeat what I heard her say； but
I feel certain they will not remain in Nemours。〃
On this assurance； enforced by a nudge from Zelie； Minoret agreed to
the purchase； and furnished the funds to pay off the mortgage due to
the doctor's estate。 The deed of sale was immediately drawn up by
Dionis。 Towards the end of June Bongrand brought the balance of the
purchase money to Madame de Portenduere； advising her to invest it in
the Funds； where； joined to Savinien's ten thousand； it would give
her； at five per cent； an income of six thousand francs。 Thus； so far
from losing her resources； the old lady actually gained by the
transaction。 But she did not leave Nemours。 Minoret thought he had
been tricked；as though Bongrand had had an idea that Ursula's
presence was intolerable to him； and he felt a keen resentment which
embittered his hatred to his victim。 Then began a secret drama which
was terrible in its effects；the struggle of two determinations； one
which impelled Minoret to drive his victim from Nemours； the other
which gave Ursula the strength to bear persecution； the cause of which
was for a certain length of time undiscoverable。 The situation was a
strange and even unnatural one； and yet it was led up to by all the
preceding events； which served as a preface to what was now to occur。
Madame Minoret； to whom her husband had given a handsome silver
service costing twenty thousand francs； gave a magnificent dinner
every Sunday； the day on which her son； the deputy procureur； came
from Fontainebleau； bringing with him certain of his friends。 On these
occasions Zelie sent to Paris for delicaciesobliging Dionis the
notary to emulate her display。 Goupil； whom the Minorets endeavored to
ignore as a questionable person who might tarnish their splendor； was
not invited until the end of July。 The clerk； who was fully aware of
this intended neglect； was forced to be respectful to Desire； who；
since his entrance into office； had assumed a haughty and dignified
air； even in his own family。
〃You must have forgotten Esther；〃 Goupil said to him； 〃as you are so
much in love with Mademoiselle Mirouet。〃
〃In the first place； Esther is dead； monsieur； and in the next I have
never even thought of Ursula；〃 said the new magistrate。
〃Why； what did you tell me； papa Minoret？〃 cried Goupil； insolently。
Minoret； caught in a lie by a man whom he feared； would have lost
countenance if it had not been for a project in his head； which was；
in fact； the reason why Goupil was invited to dinner；Minoret having
remembered the proposition the clerk had once made to prevent the
marriage between Savinien and Ursula。 For all answer； he led Goupil
hurriedly to the end of the garden。
〃You'll soon be twenty…eight years old； my good fellow；〃 said he； 〃and
I don't see that you are on the road to fortune。 I wish you well； for
after all you were once my son's companion。 Listen to me。 If you can
persuade that little Mirouet； who possesses in her own right forty
thousand francs； to marry you； I will give you； as true as my name is
Minoret； the means to buy a notary's practice at Orleans。〃
〃No；〃 said Goupil； 〃that's too far out of the way； but Montargis〃
〃No；〃 said Minoret； 〃Sens。〃
〃Very good；Sens；〃 replied the hideous clerk。 〃There's an archbishop
at Sens； and I don't object to devotion； a little hypocrisy and there
you are； on the way to fortune。 Besides； the girl is pious； and she'll
succeed at Sens。〃
〃It is to be fully understood；〃 continued Minoret； 〃that I shall not
pay the money till you marry my cousin； for whom I wish to provide；
out of consideration for my deceased uncle。〃
〃Why not for me too？〃 said Goupil maliciously； instantly suspecting a
secret motive in Minoret's conduct。 〃Isn't it through information you
got from me that you make twenty…four thousand a year from that land；
without a single enclosure； around the Chateau du Rouvre？ The fields
and the mill the other side of the Loing make sixteen thousand more。
Come； old fellow； do you mean to play fair with me？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃If I wanted to show my teeth I could coax Massin to buy the Rouvre
estate； park； gardens； preserves； and timber〃
〃You'd better think twice before you do that；〃 said Zelie； suddenly
intervening。
〃If I choose；〃 said Goupil； giving her a viperish look； 〃Massin would
buy the whole for two hundred thousand francs。〃
〃Leave us； wife；〃 said the colossus； taking Zelie by the arm； and
shoving her away； 〃I understand him。 We have been so very busy；〃 he
continued； returning to Goupil； 〃that we have had no time to think of
you； but I rely on your friendship to buy the Rouvre estate for me。〃
〃It is a very ancient marquisate；〃 said Goupil； maliciously； 〃which
will soon be worth in your hands fifty thousand francs a year； that
means a capital of more than two millions as money is now。〃
〃My son could then marry the daughter of a marshal of France； or the
daughter of some old family whose influence would get him a fine place
under the government in Paris；〃 said Minoret； opening his huge snuff…
box and offering a pinch to Goupil。
〃Very good； but will you play fair？〃 cried Goupil； shaking his
fingers。
Minoret pressed the clerk's hands replying：
〃On my word of honor。〃
CHAPTER XVII
THE MALIGNITY OF PROVINCIAL MINDS
Like all crafty persons； Goupil； fortunately for Minoret； believed
that the proposed marriage with Ursula was only a pretext on the part
of the colossus and Zelie for making up with him； now that he was
opposing them with Massin。
〃It isn't he；〃 thought Goupil； 〃who has invented t