"It was natural enough that I should warn you of a rumor which was certain to be a slander; but what have you done now?
you have let such weak persons as Monsieur and Madame d'Hauteserre and their sons see that there was truth in it.

Oh, young men! young men! You ought to keep Michu here and go away yourselves.

But if you persist in remaining, at least write a letter to the senator and tell him that having heard the rumors about Michu you have dismissed him from your employ." "We!" exclaimed the brothers; "what, write to Malin,--to the murderer of our father and our mother, to the insolent plunderer of our property!" "All true; but he is one of the chief personages at the Imperial court, and the king of your department." "He, who voted for the death of Louis XVI.

in case the army of Conde entered France!" cried Laurence.
"He, who probably advised the murder of the Duc d'Enghien!" exclaimed Paul-Marie.
"Well, well, if you want to recapitulate his titles of nobility," cried Monsieur de Chargeboeuf, "say he who pulled Robespierre by the skirts of his coat to make him fall when he saw that his enemies were stronger than he; he who would have shot Bonaparte if the 18th Brumaire had missed fire; he who manoeuvres now to bring back the Bourbons if Napoleon totters; he whom the strong will ever find on their side to handle either sword or pistol and put an end to an adversary whom they fear! But--all that is only reason the more for what I urge upon you." "We have fallen very low," said Laurence.
"Children," said the old marquis, taking them by the hand and going to the lawn, then covered by a slight fall of snow; "you will be angry at the prudent advice of an old man, but I am bound to give it, and here it is: If I were you I would employ as go-between some trustworthy old fellow--like myself, for instance; I would commission him to ask Malin for a million of francs for the title-deeds of Gondreville; he would gladly consent if the matter were kept secret.

You will then have capital in hand, an income of a hundred thousand francs, and you can buy a fine estate in another part of France.