United States or Laos ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Ever since her economical regime began, Sylvie had compelled the maid to sit in the dining-room so that one fire and one lamp could do for all; except when Colonel Gouraud and Vinet came, on which occasions Adele was sent to the kitchen. Pierrette's arrival enlivened the rest of the evening. "We must get her some clothes to-morrow," said Sylvie; "she has absolutely nothing."
"He is quite capable of it," said Vinet, "and capable of marrying her after your death." "A fine calculation!" she said. "I tell you that man has the shrewdness of the devil. Marry your brother and announce that you mean to remain unmarried and will leave your property to your nephews and nieces. That will strike a blow at Gouraud and Pierrette both! and you'll see the faces they'll make."
Vinet spoke for three hours before the Family Council; he proved the existence of an intrigue between Pierrette and Brigaut, which justified all Mademoiselle Rogron's severity. He showed how natural it was that the guardian should have left the management of his ward to a woman; he dwelt on the fact that Rogron had not interfered with Pierrette's education as planned by his sister Sylvie.
"Ah! that's true," cried the old maid, "I can serve them both right. She shall go to a shop, and get nothing from me. She hasn't a sou; let her do as we did, work." Vinet departed, having put his plan into Sylvie's head, her dogged obstinacy being well-known to him. The old maid, he was certain, would think the scheme her own, and carry it out.
The grandmother made a vow, and requested the priests to say a mass every morning at daybreak before Pierrette rose, a mass at which she and Brigaut might be present. The trial came on. While the victim lay dying, Vinet was calumniating her in court. The judge approved and accepted the report of the Family Council, and Vinet instantly appealed.
Vinet The Member for Arcis The Middle Classes Cousin Pons Translated by Katharine Prescott Wormeley To David, Sculptor: The permanence of the work on which I inscribe your name twice made illustrious in this century is very problematical; whereas you have graven mine in bronze which survives nations if only in their coins.
For the first time in her life she met a man to whom the idea that she could marry did not seem absurd. "Madame Vinet is right," cried Rogron; "perhaps teaching would keep Pierrette quiet. A master wouldn't cost much." The colonel's remark so preoccupied Sylvie that she made no answer to her brother.
"Your balloon is collapsing fast," said the minister. "So that the woman," continued Vinet, "has no object in proceeding, for she can't inherit; it belongs to the government to pursue the case of supposition of person; she can do no more than denounce the fact." "From which you conclude?" said Rastignac, with that curtness of speech which to a prolix speaker is a warning to be concise.
"He is quite capable of it," said Vinet, "and capable of marrying her after your death." "A fine calculation!" she said. "I tell you that man has the shrewdness of the devil. Marry your brother and announce that you mean to remain unmarried and will leave your property to your nephews and nieces. That will strike a blow at Gouraud and Pierrette both! and you'll see the faces they'll make."
"That boy was raised in a good school!" said Frederic Marest. "The highest school, monsieur," said the urchin, amazing the four friends with his perfect self-possession. "What a Figaro!" cried Vinet. "Mustn't lower one's price," said the infant. "My master calls me a little Robert-Macaire, and since we have learned how to invest our money we are Figaro, plus a savings bank."
Word Of The Day