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If the contracting parties will agree to this arrangement, Monsieur ought certainly to accept your guardianship account with its deficiency. I consent to that." "There's a snake in the grass somewhere," answered Solonet, in a low voice, replying to the Italian proverb with a French one. "Why do you make this fuss?" asked Paul, leading Mathias into the adjoining salon.
Maitre Solonet, who perceived no other way out of these irreconcilable difficulties than the resolution with which Paul's love inspired him, and to which this conflict of feelings and thwarted interests had brought him, was extremely surprised at the sudden exclamation of his brother notary.
"Monsieur," said Paul to Solonet, "I thank you for the pains you take to conciliate our interests. This arrangement will solve all difficulties far more happily than I expected if," he added, turning to Madame Evangelista, "it is agreeable to you, madame; for I could not desire anything that did not equally please you." "I?" she said; "all that makes the happiness of my children is joy to me.
Solonet is right, I'll send to-morrow to Elie Magus. The Jew shall estimate the value of these things. Perhaps I can avoid sinking any of my fortune in an annuity." "What a beautiful pearl necklace!" said Natalie. "He ought to give it to you, if he loves you," replied her mother; "and I think he might have all my other jewels reset and let you keep them.
She assured Solonet that neither she nor her daughter could be suspected of any mercenary interests in the marriage; that they had the right, should Paul make any financial difficulties, to retreat from the affair to an illimitable distance; and finally, that she had already acquired over her future son-in-law a very remarkable ascendancy.
"You will lose nothing, after all, upon the 'dot, Monsieur le comte," said Solonet, bringing the color to Paul's face. "Yes," said Mathias, "these jewels will meet the first payment on the purchase of the new estate." "And the costs of the contract," added Solonet.
"Then why do you live in a style that requires one hundred thousand a year at the least?" cried Mathias, horror-stricken. "Our daughter has cost us the eyes out of our head," replied Solonet. "Besides, we like to spend money. Your jeremiads, let me tell you, won't recover two farthings of the money."
"If that is so," said Solonet, "tell me what are the utmost concessions you are willing to make." "I wish to make as few as possible," she answered, laughing. "A woman's answer," cried Solonet. "Madame, are you anxious to marry Mademoiselle Natalie?" "Yes."
He made a step as if to address his client, who was silent throughout this scene as if dazed by it; but he turned and said, addressing Madame Evangelista: "Do not suppose, madame, that I think you a party to these ideas of my brother notary. I consider you an honest woman and a lady who knows nothing of business." "Thank you, brother notary," said Solonet.
Solonet quieted his own scruples by reflecting: "After all, these stipulations will take effect only in the future, by which time Madame Evangelista will be dead and buried." Madame Evangelista contented herself, for the present, with these explanations, having full confidence in Solonet.
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