A week later, Francine's grave had a border, in the midst of which the wooden cross had been replaced by a stone one with her name graven on it.
Jacques had luckily to do with an honest fellow who understood that a couple of hundredweight of cast iron, and three square feet of Pyrenean marble were no payment for three months' work by Jacques, whose talent had brought him in several thousand francs.

He offered to give the artist a share in the business, but Jacques would not consent.

The lack of variety in the subjects for treatment was repugnant to his inventive disposition, besides he had what he wanted, a large block of marble, from the recesses of which he wished to evolve a masterpiece destined for Francine's grave.
At the beginning of spring Jacques' position improved.

His friend the doctor put him in relation with a great foreign nobleman who had come to settle in Paris, and who was having a magnificent mansion built in one of the most fashionable districts.

Several celebrated artists had been called in to contribute to the luxury of this little palace.