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Maitre Lecanu was M. Roland's lawyer, and in a way his friend, managing his business for him.
Outside, the gendarmes, the farmer and a dozen peasants had taken up their position among the ruins and along the walls. All was still until eleven o'clock; but, at ten minutes past eleven, a shot echoed from the other side of the house. "Attention!" roared the sergeant. "Two men remain here: you, Fossier and you, Lecanu The others at the double!"
"And I shall not be sorry," added M. de Gesvres, "to learn the reason of this attack. To set fire to trusses of straw strikes me as a very useless proceeding." "Come with me, Monsieur le Comte: I may be able to tell you the reason." Together they reached the ruins of the cloisters. The sergeant called out: "Lecanu! Fossier!"
Chambers, 'are occasioned by this disease. The eminent French analytical chemist, Lecanu, found as much as one hundred and seventeen parts of fat in one thousand parts of a drunkard's blood, the highest estimate of the quantity in health being eight and one-quarter parts, while the ordinary quantity is not more than two or three parts, so that the blood of the drunkard contains forty times in excess of the ordinary quantity."
"Bless me! what fools we are to be racking our brains. Maitre Lecanu is our very good friend; he knows that Pierre is looking out for a medical partnership and Jean for a lawyer's office, and he has found something to suit one of you." This was so obvious and likely that every one accepted it. "Dinner is ready," said the maid.
Both man and wife responded with the little movement of pained surprise, genuine or false, but always ready, with which such news is received. Maitre Lecanu went on: "My colleague in Paris has just communicated to me the main item of his will, by which he makes your son Jean Monsieur Jean Roland his sole legatee." They were all too much amazed to utter a single word. Mme.
But his father's thoughts had set off at a gallop galloping round this inheritance to come; nay, already in hand; this money lurking behind the door, which would walk in quite soon, to-morrow, at a word of consent. "And there is no possible difficulty in the way?" he asked. "No lawsuit no one to dispute it?" Maitre Lecanu seemed quite easy.
Still, he dared not at once inquire into the clauses of the will and the amount of the fortune, so to work round to these interesting facts he asked: "And what did he die of, poor Marechal?" Maitre Lecanu did not know in the least. If M. Jean should refuse the money, it is to go to the foundling hospitals." Old Roland could not conceal his delight and exclaimed: "Sacristi!
To-morrow, at my office to-morrow, at two o'clock, if that suits you." "Yes, to be sure yes, indeed. I should think so." Then Mme. Roland, who had also risen and who was smiling after her tears, went up to the lawyer, and laying her hand on the back of his chair while she looked at him with the pathetic eyes of a grateful mother, she said: "And now for that cup of tea, Monsieur Lecanu?"
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