"You are dreaming, my dear Monsieur Bongrand; I thought every one knew that my father was a lord of a manor, with a rent roll of forty-five thousand francs a year from lands around his chateau at Rouvre,--good reasons why I should not love the goddaughter of my late great-uncle.

If I were to marry a girl without a penny these ladies would consider me a fool." "Have you never tormented your father to let you marry Ursula ?" "Never." "You hear that, monsieur ?" said the justice to the procureur du roi, who had been listening to the conversation, leading him aside into the recess of a window, where they remained in conversation for a quarter of an hour.
An hour later Bongrand was back in Nemours, at Ursula's house, whence he sent La Bougival to Minoret to beg his attendance.

The colossus came at once.
"Mademoiselle--" began Bongrand, addressing Minoret as he entered the room.
"Accepts ?" cried Minoret, interrupting him.
"No, not yet," replied Bongrand, fingering his glasses.

"I had scruples as to your son's feelings; for Ursula has been much tried lately about a supposed lover.

We know the importance of tranquillity.