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Updated: May 19, 2025
The clerk, convinced that money was more necessary to him than it was to others, and knowing himself superior in mind to the whole bourgeoisie of Nemours, was now counting on his intimacy with Minoret's son Desire to obtain the means of buying one or the other of three town offices, that of clerk of the court, or the legal practice of one of the sheriffs, or that of Dionis himself.
"Well, Dionis, here's a fine to-do!" said Massin, rushing up to the notary, who was entering the square. "What is? It's all going right," returned the notary. "Your uncle has sold his Funds and Madame de Portenduere has sent for me to witness the signing of a mortgage on her property for one hundred thousand francs, lent to her by your uncle." "Yes, but suppose the young people should marry?"
Suppose Dionis went over to Ursula just to get the old man's business?" "I am sure of him," said the clerk of the court, giving her a sly look out of his spiteful little eyes. He was just going to add, "because I hold something over him," but he withheld the words. "I am quite of Dionis's opinion," he said aloud. "So am I," cried Zelie, who now suspected the notary of collusion with the clerk.
A few moments later Goupil came from his employer, Dionis, to ask for the accounts of the transaction between the doctor and Savinien. "Why do you want them?" said the old lady. "To put the matter in legal form; there have been no cash payments."
"My wife has voted!" said the post master, sipping his brandy, though his face was already purple from digesting his meal and absorbing a notable quantity of liquids. "And very properly," remarked the collector. "I shall go and see the doctor after dinner," said Dionis.
If Madame Dionis were here she could tell you how true that comparison is." "But Monsieur Bongrand has just told me there is nothing to worry about," said Massin. "Oh! there are plenty of ways of saying that!" cried Goupil, laughing. "I would like to have heard your sly justice of the peace say it.
The certainty that the venomous Goupil would in some way be fatal to them made Ursula tremble; but she controlled herself, conscious of unspeakable pleasure in seeing that Savinien shared her emotion. "He is not handsome, that clerk of Monsieur Dionis," said Savinien, when Goupil had closed the door. "What does it signify whether such persons are handsome or ugly?" said Madame de Portenduere.
That anniversary was the last pleasure of the old doctor who, seized perhaps with a presentiment of his end, gave a little ball, to which he invited all the young people in the families of Dionis, Cremiere, Minoret, and Massin.
Bongrand was already at Goupil's, now the appointed successor of Dionis, but he entered the office with a careless air. "I have a little matter to verify about the Minoret property," he said to Goupil. "What is it?" asked the latter. "The doctor left one or more certificates in the three-per-cent Funds?" "He left one for fifteen thousand francs a year," said Goupil; "I recorded it myself."
In return the clerk fawned upon the notary, hiding his resentment at this conduct, and watching Madame Dionis in the hope that he might get his revenge there. Gifted with a ready mind and quick comprehension he found work easy. "You!" exclaimed the post master to the clerk, who stood rubbing his hands, "making game of our misfortunes already?"
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