Moreover, Macquart and Adelaide had duly acknowledged their children when declaring their birth for registration, and thus these children were entitled to inherit from their mother.

For sole consolation, Pierre learnt that the law reduced the share of illegitimate children in favour of the others.

This, however, did not console him at all.

He wanted to have everything.

He would not have shared ten sous with Ursule and Antoine.
This vista of the intricacies of the Code opened up a new horizon, which he scanned with a singularly thoughtful air.