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The estate of Froidfond, remarkable for its park, its mansion, its farms, streams, ponds, forests, and worth about three millions, was put up for sale by the young Marquis de Froidfond, who was obliged to liquidate his possessions. Maitre Cruchot, the president, and the abbe, aided by their adherents, were able to prevent the sale of the estate in little lots.
Charles expected to meet scores of people at his uncle's house, to hunt in his uncle's forests, to live, in short, the usual chateau life; he did not know that his uncle was in Saumur, and had only inquired about him incidentally when asking the way to Froidfond. Hearing that he was in town, he supposed that he should find him in a suitable mansion.
He is a widower, and he has children, that's true. But then he is a marquis; he will be peer of France; and in times like these where you will find a better match? I know it for a fact that Pere Grandet, when he put all his money into Froidfond, intended to graft himself upon that stock; he often told me so. He was a deep one, that old man!" "Ah!
When they saw him coming back from the wharf, followed by a porter from the coach-office wheeling a barrow which was laden with sacks, they all had their comments to make: "Water flows to the river; the old fellow was running after his gold," said one. "He gets it from Paris and Froidfond and Holland," said another. "He'll end by buying up Saumur," cried a third.
But Monsieur Cruchot told me he bought Froidfond two years ago; that may have pinched him." Eugenie, not being able to understand the question of her father's fortune, stopped short in her calculations. "He didn't even see me, the darling!" said Nanon, coming back from her errand. "He's stretched out like a calf on his bed and crying like the Madeleine, and that's a blessing!
This terrible remonstrance was uttered by Madame Grandet as she beheld her daughter armed with an old Sevres sugar-basin which Grandet had brought home from the chateau of Froidfond. "And where will you get the sugar? Are you crazy?" "Mamma, Nanon can buy some sugar as well as the candle." "But your father?" "Surely his nephew ought not to go without a glass of eau sucree?
In order that he might make a becoming first appearance before his uncle either at Saumur or at Froidfond, he had put on his most elegant travelling attire, simple yet exquisite, "adorable," to use the word which in those days summed up the special perfections of a man or a thing.
The fine marquisate of Froidfond was accordingly conveyed down the gullet of Monsieur Grandet, who, to the great astonishment of Saumur, paid for it, under proper discount, with the usual formalities. This affair echoed from Nantes to Orleans. Monsieur Grandet took advantage of a cart returning by way of Froidfond to go and see his chateau.
"What matter? my father is rich; I think so," she answered. "Poor child!" said Charles, making a step into her room and leaning his back against the wall, "if that were so, he would never have let my father die; he would not let you live in this poor way; he would live otherwise himself." "But he owns Froidfond." "What is Froidfond worth?" "I don't know; but he has Noyers."
Madame des Grassins rang the changes on the peerage and the title of marquise, until, mistaking Eugenie's disdainful smile for acquiescence, she went about proclaiming that the marriage with "Monsieur Cruchot" was not nearly as certain as people thought. "Though Monsieur de Froidfond is fifty," she said, "he does not look older than Monsieur Cruchot.
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