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Updated: July 9, 2025
One evening, as Claudet was returning home, more out of humor and silent than usual, Julien asked him, abruptly: "Well! how are you getting along? When is the wedding?" "Nothing is decided yet," replied Claudet, "we have time enough!" "You think so?" exclaimed de Buxieres, sarcastically; "you have considerable patience for a lover!" The remark and the tone provoked Claudet.
Profiting by the tacit permission, de Buxieres walked beside Reine; the path was so narrow that their garments rustled against each other, yet he did not seem in haste to speak, and the silence was interrupted only by the occasional flight of a bird, or the crackling of some falling branches.
"There is not much difference between us; still, you are the older, and what I have done, you can do also." "Oh!" sighed he, "you have a love of action. I have a love of repose I do not like to act." "So much the worse!" replied Reine, very decidedly. "A man ought to show more energy. Come now, Monsieur de Buxieres, will you allow me to speak frankly to you?
"What do you mean?" she exclaimed, "was it not agreed with Monsieur de Buxieres that you should inherit all his property?" "Such was his intention, but he did not have time to put it in execution; he died without leaving any will, and, as I am nothing in the eye of the law, the patrimony will go to a distant relative, a de Buxieres whom Monsieur Odouart did not even know."
"Claudet?" murmured she. "He is dead," replied Julien, almost inaudibly, "he fought bravely and was killed at Montebello." The young girl remained motionless, and for a moment de Buxieres thought she would be able to bear, with some degree of composure, this announcement of the death in a foreign country of a man whom she had refused as a husband.
As the travellers entered, the manly form of Claudet Sejournant was outlined against the bright light of the window at his back. "My son," said Manette, with a meaning side look, especially for his benefit, "here is Monsieur de Buxieres, come to take possession of his inheritance." The grand chasserot attempted a silent salutation, and then the young men took a rapid survey of each other.
"Monsieur de Buxieres," said he, pointing to a pile of law papers heaped upon the green cloth of the table; "see what I have prepared for you; you will find there all the titles and papers relating to the real estate, pictures, current notes, and various matters of your inheritance. You had better keep them under lock and key, and study them at your leisure. You will find them very interesting.
"Are you certainly Monsieur Julien de Buxieres?" asked he, surveying him suspiciously from head to foot. "Do you take me for an impostor?" exclaimed the young man. "I do not say that," returned Claudet, crossly, "but after all, you do not carry your name written on your face, and, by Jove! as guardian of the seals, I have some responsibility I want information, that is all!"
She then drew near to Claudet; gave him her hand in comrade fashion, and saluted Julien: "Good-morning, Monsieur de Buxieres, I am very glad to see you here. Was it Claudet who brought you, or did you come of your own accord?"
It just crossed his mind that perhaps Claudet had thrown out her name as a bait and an argument in favor of his theories on the facility of love-affairs in the country. However that might be, the allusion to the probable presence of Mademoiselle Vincart at the coming fete, rendered young Buxieres more tractable, and he made no further difficulties about accompanying his cousin.
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