WhereuponheleftthemabruptlytoreflectwithadmirationonthewaysbywhichProvidencehadbroughttheinnocenttovictory。
“ThefingerofGodisinallthis，“criedtheabbe。
“Willtheypunishhim？“askedUrsula。
“Ah，mademoiselle，“criedLaBougival。“I’dgivetheropetohanghim。“
BongrandwasalreadyatGoupil’s，nowtheappointedsuccessorofDionis，butheenteredtheofficewithacarelessair。“IhavealittlemattertoverifyabouttheMinoretproperty，“hesaidtoGoupil。
“Whatisit？“askedthelatter。
“Thedoctorleftoneormorecertificatesinthethree-per-centFunds？“
“Heleftoneforfifteenthousandfrancsayear，“saidGoupil；“I
recordeditmyself。“
“Thenjustlookontheinventory，“saidBongrand。
Goupiltookdownabox，huntedthroughit，drewoutapaper，foundtheplace，andread:——
“’Item，onecertificate’——Here，readforyourself——underthenumber23，533，letterM。“
“Domethekindnesstoletmehaveacopyofthatclausewithinanhour，“saidBongrand。
“Whatgoodisittoyou？“askedGoupil。
“Doyouwanttobeanotary？“answeredthejusticeofpeace，lookingsternlyatDionis’sproposedsuccessor。
“OfcourseIdo，“criedGoupil。“I’veswallowedtoomanyaffrontsnottosucceednow。Ibegyoutobelieve，monsieur，thatthemiserablecreatureoncecalledGoupilhasnothingincommonwithMaitreJean-
Sebastien-MarieGoupil，notaryofNemoursandhusbandofMademoiselleMassin。Thetwobeingsdonotknoweachother。Theyarenolongerevenalike。Lookatme！“
ThusadjuredMonsieurBongrandtooknoticeofGoupil’sclothes。Thenewnotaryworeawhitecravat，ashirtofdazzlingwhitenessadornedwithrubybuttons，awaistcoatofredvelvet，withtrousersandcoatofhandsomeblackbroad-cloth，madeinParis。Hisbootswereneat；hishair，carefullycombed，wasperfumed——inshorthewasmetamorphosed。
“Thefactisyouareanotherman，“saidBongrand。
“Morallyaswellasphysically。Virtuecomeswithpractice——apractice；besides，moneyisthesourceofcleanliness——“
“Morallyaswellasphysically，“returnedBongrand，settlinghisspectacles。
“Ha！monsieur，isamanworthahundredthousandfrancsayeareverademocrat？Considermeinfutureasanhonestmanwhoknowswhatrefinementis，andwhointendstolovehiswife，“saidGoupil；“andwhat’smore，Ishallpreventmyclientsfromeverdoingdirtyactions。“
“Well，makehaste，“saidBongrand。“Letmehavethatcopyinanhour，andnotaryGoupilwillhaveundonesomeoftheevildeedsofGoupiltheclerk。“
AfteraskingtheNemoursdoctortolendhimhishorseandcabriolet，hewentbacktoUrsula’shouseforthetwoimportantvolumesandforherowncertificateofFunds；then，armedwiththeextractfromtheinventory，hedrovetoFontainebleauandhadaninterviewwiththeprocureurduroi。Bongrandeasilyconvincedthatofficialofthetheftofthethreecertificatesbyoneorotheroftheheirs，——presumablybyMinoret。
“Hisconductisexplained，“saidtheprocureur。
AsameasureofprecautionthemagistrateatoncenotifiedtheTreasurytowithholdtransferofthesaidcertificates，andtoldBongrandtogotoParisandascertainiftheshareshadeverbeensold。HethenwroteapolitenotetoMadameMinoretrequestingherpresence。
Zelie，veryuneasyaboutherson’sduel，dressedherselfatonce，hadthehorsesputtohercarriageandhurriedtoFontainebleau。Theprocureur’splanwassimpleenough。Byseparatingthewifefromthehusband，andbringingtheterrorsofthelawtobearuponher，heexpectedtolearnthetruth。Zeliefoundtheofficialinhisprivateofficeandwasutterlyannihilatedwhenheaddressedherasfollows:——
“Madame，“hesaid；“IdonotbelieveyouareanaccompliceinatheftthathasbeencommittedupontheMinoretproperty，onthetrackofwhichthelawisnowproceeding。Butyoucanspareyourhusbandtheshameofappearingintheprisoner’sdockbymakingafullconfessionofwhatyouknowaboutit。Thepunishmentwhichyourhusbandhasincurredis，moreover，nottheonlythingtobedreaded。Yourson’scareeristobethoughtof；youmustavoiddestroyingthat。Halfanhourhencewillbetoolate。ThepolicearealreadyunderordersforNemours，thewarrantismadeout。“
Zelienearlyfainted；whensherecoveredhersensessheconfessedeverything。Afterprovingtoherthatshewasinpointoffactanaccomplice，themagistratetoldherthatifshedidnotwishtoinjureeithersonorhusbandshemustbehavewiththeutmostprudence。
“Youhavenowtodowithmeasanindividual，notasamagistrate，“hesaid。“Nocomplainthasbeenlodgedbythevictim，norhasanypublicitybeengiventothetheft。Butyourhusbandhascommittedagreatcrime，whichmaybebroughtbeforeajudgelessinclinedthanmyselftobeconsiderate。InthepresentstateoftheaffairIamobligedtomakeyouaprisoner——oh，inmyownhouse，onparole，“headded，seeingthatZeliewasabouttofaint。“Youmustrememberthatmyofficialdutywouldrequiremetoissueawarrantatonceandbeginanexamination；butIamactingnowindividually，asguardianofMademoiselleUrsulaMirouet，andherbestinterestsdemandacompromise。“
“Ah！“exclaimedZelie。
“Writetoyourhusbandinthefollowingwords，“hecontinued，placingZelieathisdeskandproceedingtodictatetheletter:——
“MyFriend，——Iamarrested，andIhavetoldall。ReturnthecertificateswhichunclelefttoMonsieurdePortenduereinthewillwhichyouburned；fortheprocureurduroihasstoppedpaymentattheTreasury。“
“Youwillthussavehimfromthedenialshewouldotherwiseattempttomake，“saidthemagistrate，smilingatZelie’sorthography。“Wewillseethattherestitutionisproperlymade。Mywifewillmakeyourstayinourhouseasagreeableaspossible。Iadviseyoutosaynothingofthematterandnottoappearanxiousorunhappy。“
NowthatZeliehadconfessedandwassafelyimmured，themagistratesentforDesire，toldhimalltheparticularsofhisfather’stheft，whichwasreallytoUrsula’sinjury，but，asmattersstood，legallytothatofhisco-heirs，andshowedhimtheletterwrittenbyhismother。
DesireatonceaskedtobeallowedtogotoNemoursandseethathisfathermadeimmediaterestitution。
“Itisaveryseriousmatter，“saidthemagistrate。“Thewillhavingbeendestroyed，ifthemattergetswind，theco-heirs，MassinandCremieremayputinaclaim。Ihaveproofenoughagainstyourfather。
Iwillreleaseyourmother，forIthinkthelittleceremonythathasalreadytakenplacehasbeensufficientwarningastoherduty。Toher，Iwillseemtohaveyieldedtoyourentreatiesinreleasingher。
TakeherwithyoutoNemours，andmanagethewholematterasbestyoucan。Don’tfearanyone。MonsieurBongrandlovesUrsulaMirouettoowelltoletthematterbecomeknown。“
ZelieandDesirestartedsoonafterforNemours。Threehourslatertheprocureurduroireceivedbyamountedmessengerthefollowingletter，theorthographyofwhichhasbeencorrectedsoasnottobringridiculeonamancrushedbyaffliction。
ToMonsieurleprocureurduroiatFontainebleau:
Monsieur，——Godislesskindtousthanyou；wehavemetwithanirreparablemisfortune。WhenmywifeandsonreachedthebridgeatNemoursatracebecameunhooked。Therewasnoservantbehindthecarriage；thehorsessmeltthestable；myson，fearingtheirimpatience，jumpeddowntohookthetraceratherthanhavethecoachmanleavethebox。Asheturnedtoresumehisplaceinthecarriagebesidehismotherthehorsesstarted；Desiredidnotstepbackagainsttheparapetintime；thestepofthecarriagecutthroughbothlegsandhefell，thehindwheelpassingoverhisbody。ThemessengerwhogoestoParisforthebestsurgeonwillbringyouthisletter，whichmysoninthemidstofhissufferingsdesiresmetowritesoastoletyouknowourentiresubmissiontoyourdecisionsinthematteraboutwhichhewascomingtospeaktome。
Ishallbegratefultoyoutomydyingdayforthemannerinwhichyouhaveacted，andIwilldeserveyourgoodness。
FrancoisMinoret。
ThiscrueleventconvulsedthewholetownofNemours。ThecrowdsstandingaboutthegateoftheMinorethousewerethefirsttotellSavinienthathisvengeancehadbeentakenbyahandmorepowerfulthanhisown。HewentatoncetoUrsula’shouse，wherehefoundboththeabbeandtheyounggirlmoredistressedthansurprised。
Thenextday，afterthewoundsweredressed，andthedoctorsandsurgeonsfromParishadgiventheiropinionthatbothlegsmustbeamputated，Minoretwent，pale，humbled，andbrokendown，accompaniedbytheabbe，toUrsula’shouse，wherehefoundalsoMonsieurBongrandandSavinien。
“Mademoiselle，“hesaid；“Iamveryguiltytowardsyou；butifallthewrongsIhavedoneyouarenotwhollyreparable，therearesomethatI
canexpiate。MywifeandIhavemadeavowtomakeovertoyouinabsolutepossessionourestateatRouvreincaseoursonrecovers，andalsoincasewehavethedreadfulsorrowoflosinghim。“
Heburstintotearsashesaidthelastwords。
“Icanassureyou，mydearUrsula，“saidtheabbe，“thatyoucanandthatyououghttoacceptapartofthisgift。“
“Willyouforgiveme？“saidMinoret，humblykneelingbeforetheastonishedgirl。“TheoperationisabouttobeperformedbythefirstsurgeonoftheHotel-Dieu；butIdonottrusttohumanscience，IrelyonlyonthepowerofGod。Ifyouwillforgiveus，ifyouaskGodtorestoreoursontous，hewillhavestrengthtobeartheagonyandweshallhavethejoyofsavinghim。“
“Letusgotothechurch！“criedUrsula，rising。
Butasshegainedherfeet，apiercingcrycamefromherlips，andshefellbackwardfainting。Whenhersensesreturned，shesawherfriends——butnotMinoretwhohadrushedforadoctor——lookingatherwithanxiouseyes，seekinganexplanation。Asshegaveit，terrorfilledtheirhearts。
“Isawmygodfatherstandinginthedoorway，“shesaid，“andhesignedtomethattherewasnohope。“
ThedayaftertheoperationDesiredied，——carriedoffbythefeverandtheshocktothesystemthatsucceedoperationsofthisnature。MadameMinoret，whosehearthadnoothertenderfeelingthanmaternity，becameinsaneaftertheburialofherson，andwastakenbyherhusbandtotheestablishmentofDoctorBlanche，whereshediedin1841。
Threemonthsaftertheseevents，inJanuary，1837，UrsulamarriedSavinienwithMadamedePortenduere’sconsent。MinorettookpartinthemarriagecontractandinsistedongivingMademoiselleMirouethisestateatRouvreandanincomeoftwenty-fourthousandfrancsfromtheFunds；keepingforhimselfonlyhisuncle’shouseandtenthousandfrancsayear。Hehasbecomethemostcharitableofmen，andthemostreligious；heischurchwardenoftheparish，andhasmadehimselftheprovidenceoftheunfortunate。
“Thepoortaketheplaceofmyson，“hesaid。
Ifyouhaveevernoticedbythewayside，incountrieswheretheypolltheoaks，someoldtree，whitenedandasifblasted，stillthrowingoutitstwigsthoughitstrunkisrivenandseemstoimploretheaxe，youwillhaveanideaoftheoldpostmaster，withhiswhitehair，——
broken，emaciated，inwhomtheeldersofthetowncanseenotraceofthejovialdullardwhomyoufirstsawwatchingforhissonatthebeginningofthishistory；hedoesnoteventakehissnuffasheoncedid；hecarriessomethingmorenowthantheweightofhisbody。
Beholdinghim，wefeelthatthehandofGodwaslaiduponthatfiguretomakeitanawfulwarning。Afterhatingsoviolentlyhisuncle’sgodchildtheoldmannow，likeDoctorMinorethimself，hasconcentratedallhisaffectionsonher，andhasmadehimselfthemanagerofherpropertyinNemours。
MonsieurandMadamedePortenduerepassfivemonthsoftheyearinParis，wheretheyhaveboughtahandsomehouseintheFaubourgSaint-
Germain。MadamedePortendueretheelder，aftergivingherhouseinNemourstotheSistersofCharityforafreeschool，wenttoliveatRouvre，whereLaBougivalkeepstheporter’slodge。Cabirolle，theformerconductorofthe“Ducler，“amansixtyyearsofage，hasmarriedLaBougivalandthetwelvehundredfrancsayearwhichshepossessesbesidestheampleemolumentsofherplace。YoungCabirolleisMonsieurdePortenduere’scoachman。
IfyouhappentoseeintheChamps-Elyseesoneofthosecharminglittlelowcarriagescalled’escargots，’linedwithgraysilkandtrimmedwithblue，andcontainingaprettyyoungwomanwhomyouadmirebecauseherfaceiswreathedininnumerablefaircurls，hereyesluminousasforget-me-notsandfilledwithlove；ifyouseeherbendingslightlytowardsafineyoungman，and，ifyouare，foramoment，consciousofenvy——pauseandreflectthatthishandsomecouple，belovedofGod，havepaidtheirquotatothesorrowsoflifeintimesnowpast。ThesemarriedloversaretheVicomtedePortenduereandhiswife。ThereisnotanothersuchhomeinParisastheirs。
“ItisthesweetesthappinessIhaveeverseen，“saidtheComtessedel’Estorade，speakingofthemlately。
Blessthem，therefore，andbenotenvious；seekanUrsulaforyourselves，ayounggirlbroughtupbythreeoldmen，andbythebestofallmothers——adversity。
Goupil，whodoesservicetoeverybodyandisjustlyconsideredthewittiestmaninNemours，haswontheesteemofthelittletown，butheispunishedinhischildren，whoarericketyandhydrocephalous。
Dionis，hispredecessor，flourishesintheChamberofDeputies，ofwhichheisoneofthefinestornaments，tothegreatsatisfactionofthekingoftheFrench，whoseesMadameDionisatallhisballs。
MadameDionisrelatestothewholetownofNemourstheparticularsofherreceptionsattheTuileriesandthesplendorofthecourtofthekingoftheFrench。ShelordsitoverNemoursbymeansofthethrone，whichthereforemustbepopularinthelittletown。
Bongrandischief-justiceofthecourtofappealsatMelun。Hissonisinthewayofbecominganhonestattorney-general。
MadameCremierecontinuestomakeherdelightfulspeeches。Ontheoccasionofherdaughter’smarriage，sheexhortedhertobetheworkingcaterpillarofthehousehold，andtolookintoeverythingwiththeeyesofasphinx。Goupilismakingacollectionofher“slapsus-
linquies，“whichhecallsaCremiereana。
“WehavehadthegreatsorrowoflosingourgoodAbbeChaperon，“saidtheVicomtessedePortenduerethiswinter——havingnursedhimherselfduringhisillness。“Thewholecantoncametohisfuneral。Nemoursisveryfortunate，however，forthesuccessorofthatdearsaintisthevenerablecureofSaint-Lange。“
End
