Honoré de Balzac

“ It is all very well the doctor wearing the ribbon of Saint-Michel, being an officer of the Legion of Honor and former physician to the Ex-Emperor, he will die. But, if you are forewarned in case of adoption, how would you know of the marriage? The old man is sly enough to go and marry in Paris after a year’s residence, and requite his intended, in the marriage settlements, by a dowry of a million. Therefore the only act that can endanger your inheritance is the marriage of the little one and your uncle. ”

“ The child, astonished at her success, burst into tears. The old man stood up as if someone had called him, gazed into space as if he could see some aurora, then he bent his knee upon his armchair, folded his hands and cast his eyes upon the ground like a profoundly humiliated man. ”

“ During the night, he had reflected on the line of conduct he ought to take with Ursule concerning the secret surprise of this growing passion. An examination would compromise him with his ward. Either he must approve or disapprove of this love; in either case, his position would be false. So he had determined to examine the respective situations of young Portenduère and Ursule to find out whether he ought to fight against this partiality before it became irresistible. An old man only could display so much wisdom. ”

“ One can always cause difficulties to arise between the wish to realize and the realization.”
The heirs, struck by the truth of this argument, much more skilful than that of Monsieur Josse, murmured approvingly.
“You must all act together,” said the notary in conclusion, “so as to keep your uncle in Nemours, to which he is accustomed, and where you can watch him. By providing a lover for the little one, you prevent the marriage—”
“But suppose the marriage took place?” said Goupil, seized with an ambitious idea. ”

“ Here the notary paused.
“There is yet another danger,” said Goupil again, with a knowing look, “that of a will made to a third, old Bongrand, for instance, who might hold a legacy trust for Mademoiselle Ursule Mirouët.”
“If you worry your uncle,” resumed Dionis, cutting short his head clerk, “and if you are not kind to Ursule, you will drive him either into marriage, or into the legacy trust of which Goupil has spoken; but I do not believe him capable of resorting to a legacy trust, a dangerous means. As to marriage, it is easy to prevent that. ”

“ Marriages are made and unmade.”
“The shortest way,” said Goupil, “if the doctor is still going to live any length of time, would be to marry her to some good fellow, who would free you of her by settling with her at Sens, Montargis or Orléans, with a hundred thousand francs.”
Dionis, Massin, Zélie and Goupil, the only clever heads in this assembly, exchanged four glances full of ideas. ”

“ This haughty declaration was seconded by Goupil, who said:
“Désiré, endowed with an income of twenty-four thousand francs, will become either president of the royal Courts or attorney-general, which leads to the peerage; and a foolish marriage would do for him.”
The heirs then all talked to one another; but held their peace at Minoret’s thump on the table to enable the notary to continue speaking.
“Your uncle is an honest, worthy man,” resumed Dionis. “He believes himself to be immortal; and like all intelligent people, he will allow death to overtake him without having made a will. ”

“ I should pray to God every day, so that in His infinite mercy He might not eternally punish the errors of a day, and that He might place a soul as beautiful and pure as yours close to Himself, among the souls of the blessed. ”

“ The law pursues the natural child even to its legitimate descent, for it alleges that the liberality shown to the grandchildren applies to the natural son by interposition of person. This results from comparing Articles 757, 908 and 911 of the Civil Code. The Royal Court of Paris on the twenty-sixth of December of last year also reduced the legacy left to the legitimate child of the natural son by the grandfather, who, most assuredly, as a grandfather, was as much of a stranger to the natural grandson as the doctor, as an uncle, could be to Ursule. ”

“ The old man’s eagerness to get home, his asserted scorn of his relations, and his biting answers upon leaving the church were naturally attributed by each of the heirs to the hatred for them with which Ursule was inspiring him.
Whilst the godchild was playing to her godfather variations of Weber’s Last Thought, a fine plot was hatching in the dining-room of the Minoret-Levrault household which was to result in bringing on the scene one of the chief persons in this drama. ”

“ Bless me! my son is to represent the Minorets at his uncle’s death, and the Minorets can boast of five hundred years of good citizens. It is quite as good as the nobility. Make yourselves easy about that ”

“ If I can become his adviser, I will propose other investments in land for the surplus of the capital, and I have some excellent ones in my office. Once his fortune is placed in landed estates or in trust mortgages in the country, it will not easily fly away. ”