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stamps；here are seventy centimes。〃
Lecoeur was too much afraid of Goupil to complain。 All Nemours knew
before night that Minoret had given Dionis security to enable Goupil
to buy his practice。 The latter wrote to Savinien denying his charges
against Minoret； and telling the young nobleman that in his new
position he was forbidden by the rules of the supreme court； and also
by his respect for law； to fight a duel。 But he warned Savinien to
treat him well in future； assuring him he was a capital boxer； and
would break his leg at the first offence。
The walls of Nemours were cleared of the inscription； but the quarrel
between Minoret and his wife went on； and Savinien maintained a
threatening silence。 Ten days after these events the marriage of
Mademoiselle Massin； the elder； to the future notary was bruited about
the town。 Mademoiselle Massin had a dowry of eighty thousand francs
and her own peculiar ugliness； Goupil had his deformities and his
practice； the union therefore seemed suitable and probable。 One
evening； towards midnight； two unknown men seized Goupil in the street
as he was leaving Massin's house； gave him a sound beating； and
disappeared。 The notary kept the matter a profound secret； and even
contradicted an old woman who saw the scene from her window and
thought that she recognized him。
These great little events were carefully studied by Bongrand； who
became convinced that Goupil held some mysterious power over Minoret；
and he determined to find out its cause。
CHAPTER XIX
APPARITIONS
Though the public opinion of the little town recognized Ursula's
perfect innocence； she recovered slowly。 While in a state of bodily
exhaustion； which left her mind and spirit free； she became the medium
of phenomena the effects of which were astounding； and of a nature to
challenge science； if science had been brought into contact with them。
Ten days after Madame de Portenduere's visit Ursula had a dream； with
all the characteristics of a supernatural vision； as much in its moral
aspects as in the； so to speak； physical circumstances。 Her godfather
appeared to her and made a sign that she should come with him。 She
dressed herself and followed him through the darkness to their former
house in the Rue des Bourgeois； where she found everything precisely
as it was on the day of her godfather's death。 The old man wore the
clothes that were on him the evening before his death。 His face was
pale； his movements caused no sound； nevertheless； Ursula heard his
voice distinctly； though it was feeble and as if repeated by a distant
echo。 The doctor conducted his child as far as the Chinese pagoda；
where he made her lift the marble top of the little Boule cabinet just
as she had raised it on the day of his death； but instead of finding
nothing there she saw the letter her godfather had told her to fetch。
She opened it and read both the letter addressed to herself and the
will in favor of Savinien。 The writing； as she afterwards told the
abbe； shone as if traced by sunbeams〃it burned my eyes；〃 she said。
When she looked at her uncle to thank him she saw the old benevolent
smile upon his discolored lips。 Then； in a feeble voice； but still
clearly； he told her to look at Minoret； who was listening in the
corridor to what he said to her； and next； slipping the lock of the
library door with his knife； and taking the papers from the study。
With his right hand the old man seized his goddaughter and obliged her
to walk at the pace of death and follow Minoret to his own house。
Ursula crossed the town； entered the post house and went into Zelie's
old room； where the spectre showed her Minoret unfolding the letters；
reading them and burning them。
〃He could not；〃 said Ursula； telling her dream to the abbe； 〃light the
first two matches； but the third took fire； he burned the papers and
buried their remains in the ashes。 Then my godfather brought me back
to our house； and I saw Minoret…Levrault slipping into the library；
where he took from the third volume of Pandects three certificates of
twelve thousand francs each； also； from the preceding volume； a number
of banknotes。 'He is；' said my godfather； 'the cause of all the
trouble which has brought you to the verge of the tomb； but God wills
that you shall yet be happy。 You will not die now； you will marry
Savinien。 If you love me； and if you love Savinien； I charge you to
demand your fortune from my nephew。 Swear it。'〃
Resplendent as though transfigured； the spectre had so powerful an
influence on Ursula's soul that she promised all her uncle asked；
hoping to put an end to the nightmare。 She woke suddenly and found
herself standing in the middle of her bedroom； facing her godfather's
portrait； which had been placed there during her illness。 She went
back to bed and fell asleep after much agitation； and on waking again
she remembered all the particulars of this singular vision； but she
dared not speak of it。 Her judgment and her delicacy both shrank from
revealing a dream the end and object of which was her pecuniary
benefit。 She attributed the vision； not unnaturally； to remarks made
by La Bougival the preceding evening； when the old woman talked of the
doctor's intended liberality and of her own convictions on that
subject。 But the dream returned； with aggravated circumstances which
made it fearful to the poor girl。 On the second occasion the icy hand
of her godfather was laid upon her shoulder； causing her the most
horrible distress； an indefinable sensation。 〃You must obey the dead；〃
he said； in a sepulchral voice。 〃Tears；〃 said Ursula； relating her
dreams； 〃fell from his white； wide…open eyes。〃
The third time the vision came the dead man took her by the braids of
her long hair and showed her the post master talking with Goupil and
promising money if he would remove Ursula to Sens。 Ursula then decided
to relate the three dreams to the Abbe Chaperon。
〃Monsieur l'abbe；〃 she said； 〃do you believe that the dead reappear？〃
〃My child； sacred history； profane history； and modern history； have
much testimony to that effect； but the Church has never made it an
article of faith； and as for science； in France science laughs at the
idea。〃
〃What do YOU believe？〃
〃That the power of God is infinite。〃
〃Did my godfather ever speak to you of such matters？〃
〃Yes； often。 He had entirely changed his views of them。 His
conversion； as he told me at least twenty times； dated from the day
when a woman in Paris heard you praying for him in Nemours； and saw
the red dot you made against Saint…Savinien's day in your almanac。〃
Ursula uttered a piercing cry； which alarmed the priest； she
remembered the scene when； on returning to Nemours； her godfather read
her soul； and took away the almanac。
〃If that is so；〃 she said； 〃then my visions are possibly true。 My
godfather has appeared to me； as Jesus appeared to his disciples。 He
was wrapped in yell