The evening of the day on which this was finally settled he went to see Zelie, whom he knew to be puzzled as to how to invest her money, and proposed to sell her the farm at Bordieres for two hundred and twenty thousand francs.
"I'd buy it at once," said Minoret, "if I were sure the Portendueres would go and live somewhere else." "Why ?" said the justice of peace.
"We want to get rid of the nobles in Nemours." "I did hear the old lady say that if she could settle her affairs she should go and live in Brittany, as she would not have means enough left to live her.

She is thinking of selling her house." "Well, sell it to me," said Minoret.
"To you ?" said Zelie.

"You talk as if you were master of everything.
What do you want with two houses in Nemours ?" "If I don't settle this matter of the farm with you to-night," said Bongrand, "our lease will get known, Massin will put in a fresh claim, and I shall lose this chance of liquidation which I am anxious to make.
So if you don't take my offer I shall go at once to Melun, where some farmers I know are ready to buy the farm with their eyes shut." "Why did you come to us, then ?" said Zelie.
"Because you can pay me in cash, and my other clients would make me wait some time for the money.

I don't want difficulties." "Get _her_ out of Nemours and I'll pay it," exclaimed Minoret.
"You understand that I cannot answer for Madame de Portenduere's actions," said Bongrand.

"I can only repeat what I heard her say, but I feel certain they will not remain in Nemours." On this assurance, enforced by a nudge from Zelie, Minoret agreed to the purchase, and furnished the funds to pay off the mortgage due to the doctor's estate.