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which extended from the salon towards the river； ending in a horrible
Chinese pagoda。
〃Good！ by building a roof to that greenhouse and laying a floor；〃 said
old Minoret； 〃I could put my book there and make a very comfortable
study of that extraordinary bit of architecture at the end。〃
On the other side of the passage； toward the garden； was the dining…
room； decorated in imitation of black lacquer with green and gold
flowers； this was separated from the kitchen by the well of the
staircase。 Communication with the kitchen was had through a little
pantry built behind the staircase； the kitchen itself looking into the
courtyard through windows with iron railings。 There were two chambers
on the next floor； and above them； attic rooms sheathed in wood； which
were fairly habitable。 After examining the house rapidly； and
observing that it was covered with trellises from top to bottom； on
the side of the courtyard as well as on that to the garden；which
ended in a terrace overlooking the river and adorned with pottery
vases；the doctor remarked：
〃Levrault…Levrault must have spend a good deal of money here。〃
〃Ho！ I should think so；〃 answered Minoret…Levrault。 〃He liked flowers
nonsense！ 'What do they bring in？' says my wife。 You saw inside
there how an artist came from Paris to paint flowers in fresco in the
corridor。 He put those enormous mirrors everywhere。 The ceilings were
all re…made with cornices which cost six francs a foot。 The dining…
room floor is in marquetryperfect folly！ The house won't sell for a
penny the more。〃
〃Well； nephew； buy it for me： let me know what you do about it； here's
my address。 The rest I leave to my notary。 Who lives opposite？〃 he
asked； as they left the house。
〃Emigres；〃 answered the post master； 〃named Portenduere。〃
The house once bought； the illustrious doctor； instead of leaving
there； wrote to his nephew to let it。 The Folie…Levraught was
therefore occupied by the notary of Nemours； who about that time sold
his practice to Dionis； his head…clerk； and died two years later；
leaving the house on the doctor's hands； just at the time when the
fate of Napoleon was being decided in the neighbourhood。 The doctor's
heirs； at first misled； had by this time decided that his thought of
returning to his native place was merely a rich man's fancy； and that
probably he had some tie in Paris which would keep him there and cheat
them of their hoped…for inheritance。 However； Minoret…Levrault's wife
seized the occasion to write him a letter。 The old man replied that as
soon as peace was signed； the roads cleared of soldiers； and safe
communications established； he meant to go and live at Nemours。 He
did； in fact； put in an appearance with two of his clients； the
architect of his hospital and an upholsterer； who took charge of the
repairs； the indoor arrangements； and the transportation of the
furniture。 Madame Minoret…Levrault proposed the cook of the late
notary as caretaker； and the woman was accepted。
When the heirs heard that their uncle and great…uncle Minoret was
really coming to live in Nemours； they were seized （in spite of the
political events which were just then weighing so heavily on Brie and
on the Gatinais） with a devouring curiosity； which was not surprising。
Was he rich？ Economical or spendthrift？ Would he leave a fine fortune
or nothing？ Was his property in annuities？ In the end they found out
what follows； but only by taking infinite pains and employing much
subterraneous spying。
After the death of his wife； Ursula Mirouet； and between the years
1789 and 1813； the doctor （who had been appointed consulting physician
to the Emperor in 1805） must have made a good deal of money； but no
one knew how much。 He lived simply； without other extravagancies than
a carriage by the year and a sumptuous apartment。 He received no
guests； and dined out almost every day。 His housekeeper； furious at
not being allowed to go with him to Nemours； told Zelie Levrault； the
post master's wife； that she knew the doctor had fourteen thousand
francs a year on the 〃grand…livre。〃 Now； after twenty years' exercise
of a profession which his position as head of a hospital； physician to
the Emperor； and member of the Institute； rendered lucrative； these
fourteen thousand francs a year showed only one hundred and sixty
thousand francs laid by。 To have saved only eight thousand francs a
year the doctor must have had either many vices or many virtues to
gratify。 But neither his housekeeper nor Zelie nor any one else could
discover the reason for such moderate means。 Minoret； who when he left
it was much regretted in the quarter of Paris where he had lived； was
one of the most benevolent of men； and； like Larrey； kept his kind
deeds a profound secret。
The heirs watched the arrival of their uncle's fine furniture and
large library with complacency； and looked forward to his own coming；
he being now an officer of the Legion of honor； and lately appointed
by the king a chevalier of the order of Saint…Michelperhaps on
account of his retirement； which left a vacancy for some favorite。 But
when the architect and painter and upholsterer had arranged everything
in the most comfortable manner； the doctor did not come。 Madame
Minoret…Levrault； who kept an eye on the upholsterer and architect as
if her own property was concerned； found out； through the indiscretion
of a young man sent to arrange the books； that the doctor was taking
care of a little orphan named Ursula。 The news flew like wild…fire
through the town。 At last； however； towards the middle of the month of
January； 1815； the old man actually arrived； installing himself
quietly； almost slyly； with a little girl about ten months old； and a
nurse。
〃The child can't be his daughter；〃 said the terrified heirs； 〃he is
seventy…one years old。〃
〃Whoever she is；〃 remarked Madame Massin； 〃she'll give us plenty of
tintouin〃 （a word peculiar to Nemours； meaning uneasiness； anxiety； or
more literally； tingling in the ears）。
The doctor received his great…niece on the mother's side somewhat
coldly； her husband had just bought the place of clerk of the court；
and the pair began at once to tell him of their difficulties。 Neither
Massin nor his wife were rich。 Massin's father； a locksmith at
Montargis； had been obliged to compromise with his creditors； and was
now； at sixty…seven years of age； working like a young man； and had
nothing to leave behind him。 Madame Massin's father； Levrault…Minoret；
had just died at Montereau after the battle； in despair at seeing his
farm burned； his fields ruined； his cattle slaughtered。
〃We'll get nothing out of your great…uncle；〃 said Massin to his wife；
now pregnant with her second child； after the interview。
The doctor； however； gave them privately ten thousand francs； with
which Massin； who was a great friend of the notary and of the sheriff；
began the business of money…lending； and carried matters