So he indirectly consulted a lawyer of the Faubourg.
He learnt some fine things from him.

According to the lawyer, his hands were completely tied.

His mother alone could alienate the property, and he doubted whether she would.

But what he did not know, what came as a heavy blow to him, was that Ursule and Antoine, those young wolves, had claims on the estate.

What! they would despoil him, rob him, the legitimate child! The lawyer's explanations were clear and precise, however; Adelaide, it is true, had married Rougon under the common property system; but as the whole fortune consisted of land, the young woman, according to law, again came into possession of everything at her husband's death.