No one, therefore, except Michu, looked into the past of this affair, which the community accepted as a simple matter.

Marion, who had bought Gondreville for six hundred thousand francs in assignats, sold it for the value of a couple of million in coin; but the only payments actually made by Malin were for the costs of registration.

Grevin, a seminary comrade of Malin, assisted the transaction, and the Councillor rewarded his help with the office of notary at Arcis.

When the news of the sale reached the pavilion, brought there by a farmer whose farm, at Grouage, was situated between the forest and the park on the left of the noble avenue, Michu turned pale and left the house.

He lay in wait for Marion, and finally met him alone in one of the shrubberies of the park.
"Is monsieur about to sell Gondreville ?" asked the bailiff.
"Yes, Michu, yes.