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"Well, it's all settled. I'll start to-morrow by the mail-post," said des Grassins aloud, "and I will come and take your last directions at what hour will suit you?" "Five o'clock, just before dinner," said Grandet, rubbing his hands. The two parties stayed on for a short time. Des Grassins said, after a pause, striking Grandet on the shoulder, "It is a good thing to have a relation like him."
Monsieur des Grassins and his son, to whom the appearance of a man of fashion was not wholly unknown, were nevertheless as much astonished as their neighbors, whether it was that they fell under the indefinable influence of the general feeling, or that they really shared it as with satirical glances they seemed to say to their compatriots, "That is what you see in Paris!"
La Grande Nanon stood before her, both hands on her hips, her joy puffing as it were like smoke through the cracks of her brown face. "Read it, mademoiselle!" "Ah, Nanon, why did he return to Paris? He went from Saumur." "Read it, and you'll find out." Eugenie opened the letter with trembling fingers. A cheque on the house of "Madame des Grassins and Coret, of Saumur," fluttered down.
"I have promised to say good-evening to Mademoiselle de Gribeaucourt, and we will go there first, if my uncle is willing." "Farewell for the present!" said Madame des Grassins. When the Cruchots were a few steps off, Adolphe remarked to his father, "Are not they fuming, hein?" "Hold your tongue, my son!" said his mother; "they might hear you.
"It is quite apparent," said the president in his loud voice, "that Monsieur Grandet of Paris has sent his son to Saumur with extremely matrimonial intentions." "But in that case the cousin wouldn't have fallen among us like a cannon-ball," answered the notary. "That doesn't prove anything," said Monsieur des Grassins; "the old miser is always making mysteries."
Daily some little circumstance reminded them of the parting that was at hand. Three days after the departure of des Grassins, Grandet took his nephew to the Civil courts, with the solemnity which country people attach to all legal acts, that he might sign a deed surrendering his rights in his father's estate. Terrible renunciation! species of domestic apostasy!
Charles also went before Maitre Cruchot to make two powers of attorney, one for des Grassins, the other for the friend whom he had charged with the sale of his belongings.
Charles had brought back magnificent diamonds, and the value of their setting, together with the plate and jewelry of the new establishment, amounted to more than two hundred thousand francs. He received des Grassins, whom he did not recognize, with the impertinence of a young man of fashion conscious of having killed four men in as many duels in the Indies.
Some were angry, and flatly refused to give in their vouchers. "Very good; so much the better," said Grandet, rubbing his hands over the letter in which des Grassins announced the fact. Others agreed to the demand, but only on condition that their rights should be fully guaranteed; they renounced none, and even reserved the power of ultimately compelling a failure.
"Mongenod, endowed with an excellent heart and fine courage, a trifle Voltairean, was inclined to play the nobleman," went on Monsieur Alain. "His education at Grassins, where there were many young nobles, and his various gallantries, had given him the polished manners and ways of people of condition, who were then called aristocrats.
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