former clerks as solicitor at Fontainebleau, for the Portenduères, and himself conducted the inquiry into the nullity of the proceedings. He wanted to profit by the interval that should elapse between the annulment of the prosecution and Massin’s fresh suit, to renew the lease of the farm at six thousand francs, to extract a premium from the farmers and the payment of the last year in advance. From that time, the whist party was reorganized at Madame de Portenduère’s, between himself, the curé, Savinien and Ursule, whom Bongrand and the Abbé Chaperon used to call for and take home every evening. In June, Bongrand proclaimed the nullity of the proceedings pursued by Massin against the Portenduères. He immediately signed the fresh lease, obtained thirty-two thousand francs from the farmer, and a rental of six thousand francs for eighteen years; then, that evening, before his transactions could be noised abroad, he called upon Zélie, whom he knew to be puzzled as to how she should invest her funds, and proposed that she should purchase Les Bordières for two hundred and twenty thousand francs.
“I would close the bargain at once,” said Minoret, “if I knew that the Portenduères would go and live elsewhere than in Nemours.”
“But why?” replied the justice of the peace.
“We would like to dispense with nobility at Nemours.”
“I think I have heard the old lady say that if her affairs were settled, she could not live anywhere but
