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coolness。
〃I did not come to frighten you； for I shall never speak of this to
any one in the world；〃 said the abbe。 〃You alone know the truth。 The
matter is between you and God。〃
〃Come now； Monsieur l'abbe； do you really think me capable of such a
horrible abuse of confidence？〃
〃I believe only in crimes which are confessed to me； and of which the
sinner repents；〃 said the priest； in an apostolic tone。
〃Crime？〃 cried Minoret。
〃A crime frightful in its consequences。〃
〃What consequences？〃
〃In the fact that it escapes human justice。 The crimes which are not
expiated here below will be punished in another world。 God himself
avenges innocence。〃
〃Do you think God concerns himself with such trifles？〃
〃If he did not see the worlds in all their details at a glance； as you
take a landscape into your eye； he would not be God。〃
〃Monsieur l'abbe； will you give me your word of honor that you have
had these facts from my uncle？〃
〃Your uncle has appeared three times to Ursula and has told them and
repeated them to her。 Exhausted by such visions she revealed them to
me privately； she considers them so devoid of reason that she will
never speak of them。 You may make yourself easy on that point。〃
〃I am easy on all points； Monsieur Chaperon。〃
〃I hope you are；〃 said the old priest。 〃Even if I considered these
warnings absurd； I should still feel bound to inform you of them；
considering the singular nature of the details。 You are an honest man；
and you have obtained your handsome fortune in too legal a way to wish
to add to it by theft。 Besides； you are an almost primitive man； and
you would be tortured by remorse。 We have within us； be we savage or
civilized； the sense of what is right； and this will not permit us to
enjoy in peace ill…gotten gains acquired against the laws of the
society in which we live；for well…constituted societies are modeled
on the system God has ordained for the universe。 In this respect
societies have a divine origin。 Man does not originate ideas； he
invents no form； he answers to the eternal relations that surround him
on all sides。 Therefore； see what happens！ Criminals going to the
scaffold； and having it in their power to carry their secret with
them； are compelled by the force of some mysterious power to make
confessions before their heads are taken off。 Therefore； Monsieur
Minoret； if your mind is at ease； I go my way satisfied。〃
Minoret was so stupefied that he allowed the abbe to find his own way
out。 When he thought himself alone he flew into the fury of a choleric
man； the strangest blasphemies escaped his lips； in which Ursula's
name was mingled with odious language。
〃Why； what has she done to you？〃 cried Zelie； who had slipped in on
tiptoe after seeing the abbe out of the house。
For the first and only time in his life； Minoret； drunk with anger and
driven to extremities by his wife's reiterated questions； turned upon
her and beat her so violently that he was obliged； when she fell half…
dead on the floor； to take her in his arms and put her to bed himself；
ashamed of his act。 He was taken ill and the doctor bled him twice；
when he appeared again in the streets everybody noticed a great change
in him。 He walked alone； and often roamed the town as though uneasy。
When any one addressed him he seemed preoccupied in his mind； he who
had never before had two ideas in his head。 At last； one evening； he
went up to Monsieur Bongrand in the Grand'Rue； the latter being on his
way to take Ursula to Madame de Portenduere's； where the whist parties
had begun again。
〃Monsieur Bongrand； I have something important to say to my cousin；〃
he said； taking the justice by the arm； 〃and I am very glad you should
be present； for you can advise her。〃
They found Ursula studying； she rose； with a cold and dignified air；
as soon as she saw Minoret。
〃My child； Monsieur Minoret wants to speak to you on a matter of
business；〃 said Bongrand。 〃By the bye； don't forget to give me your
certificates； I shall go to Paris in the morning and will draw your
dividend and La Bougival's。〃
〃Cousin；〃 said Minoret； 〃our uncle accustomed you to more luxury than
you have now。〃
〃We can be very happy with very little money；〃 she replied。
〃I thought money might help your happiness；〃 continued Minoret； 〃and I
have come to offer you some； out of respect for the memory of my
uncle。〃
〃You had a natural way of showing respect for him；〃 said Ursula；
sternly； 〃you could have left his house as it was； and allowed me to
buy it； instead of that you put it at a high price； hoping to find
some hidden treasure in it。〃
〃But；〃 said Minoret； evidently troubled； 〃if you had twelve thousand
francs a year you would be in a position to marry well。〃
〃I have not got them。〃
〃But suppose I give them to you； on condition of your buying an estate
in Brittany near Madame de Portenduere；you could then marry her
son。〃
〃Monsieur Minoret；〃 said Ursula； 〃I have no claim to that money； and I
cannot accept it from you。 We are scarcely relations； still less are
we friends。 I have suffered too much from calumny to give a handle for
evil…speaking。 What have I done to deserve that money？ What reason
have you to make me such a present？ These questions； which I have a
right to ask； persons will answer as they see fit； some would consider
your gift the reparation of a wrong； and； as such； I choose not to
accept it。 Your uncle did not bring me up to ignoble feelings。 I can
accept nothing except from friends； and I have no friendship for you。〃
〃Then you refuse？〃 cried the colossus； into whose head the idea had
never entered that a fortune could be rejected。
〃I refuse；〃 said Ursula。
〃But what grounds have you for offering Mademoiselle Ursula such a
fortune？〃 asked Bongrand； looking fixedly at Minoret。 〃You have an
ideahave you an idea？〃
〃Well； yes； the idea of getting her out of Nemours； so that my son
will leave me in peace； he is in love with her and wants to marry
her。〃
〃Well； we'll see about it；〃 said Bongrand； settling his spectacles。
〃Give us time to think it over。〃
He walked home with Minoret； applauding the solicitude shown by the
father for his son's interests； and slightly blaming Ursula for her
hasty decision。 As soon as Minoret was within his own gate； Bongrand
went to the post house； borrowed a horse and cabriolet； and started
for Fontainebleau； where he went to see the deputy procureur； and was
told that he was spending the evening at the house of the sub…prefect。
Bongrand； delighted； followed him there。 Desire was playing whist with
the wife of the procureur du roi； the wife of the sub…prefect； and the
colonel of the regiment in garrison。
〃I come to bring you some good news；〃 said Bongrand to Desire； 〃you
love your cousin Ursula； and the marriage can be arranged。〃
〃I love Ursula Mirouet！〃 cried Desire； laughing。 〃Wher