“Whynotsecurethething，“saidBongrand，“whyrunanyrisks？“
　　“Whenyouarebetweentworisks，“repliedthedoctor，“avoidthemostrisky。“
　　BongrandcarriedthroughthebusinessofmakingUrsulaofagesopromptlythatthepaperswerereadybythedayshewastwenty。Thatanniversarywasthelastpleasureoftheolddoctorwho，seizedperhapswithapresentimentofhisend，gavealittleball，towhichheinvitedalltheyoungpeopleinthefamiliesofDionis，Cremiere，Minoret，andMassin。Savinien，Bongrand，theabbeandhistwoassistantpriests，theNemoursdoctor，andMesdamesZelieMinoret，Massin，andCremiere，togetherwitholdSchmucke，weretheguestsatagranddinnerwhichprecededtheball。
　　“IfeelIamgoing，“saidtheoldmantothenotarytowardsthecloseoftheevening。“Ibegyoutocometo-morrowanddrawupmyguardianshipaccountwithUrsula，soasnottocomplicatemypropertyaftermydeath。ThankGod！Ihavenotwithdrawnonepennyfrommyheirs，——Ihavedisposedofnothingbutmyincome。MessieursCremiere，Massin，andMinoretmynephewaremembersofthefamilycouncilappointedforUrsula，andIwishthemtobepresentattherenderingofmyaccount。“
　　Thesewords，heardbyMassinandquicklypassedfromonetoanotherroundtheball-room，pouredbalmintothemindsofthethreefamilies，whohadlivedinperpetualalternationsofhopeandfear，sometimesthinkingtheywerecertainofwealth，oftenerthattheyweredisinherited。
　　When，abouttwointhemorning，theguestswereallgoneandnooneremainedinthesalonbutSavinien，Bongrand，andtheabbe，theolddoctorsaid，pointingtoUrsula，whowascharminginherballdress；
　　“Toyou，myfriends，Iconfideher！Afewdaysmore，andIshallbeherenolongertoprotecther。Putyourselvesbetweenherandtheworlduntilsheismarried，——Ifearforher。“
　　Thewordsmadeapainfulimpression。Theguardian’saccount，renderedadayortwolaterinpresenceofthefamilycouncil，showedthatDoctorMinoretowedabalancetohiswardoftenthousandsixhundredfrancsfromthebequestofMonsieurdeJordy，andalsofromalittlecapitalofgiftsmadebythedoctorhimselftoUrsuladuringthelastfifteenyears，onbirthdaysandotheranniversaries。
　　Thisformalrenderingoftheaccountwasinsistedonbythejusticeofthepeace，whofearedunhappily，withtoomuchreasontheresultsofDoctorMinoret’sdeath。
　　Thefollowingdaytheoldmanwasseizedwithaweaknesswhichcompelledhimtokeephisbed。Inspiteofthereservewhichalwayssurroundedthedoctor’shouseandkeptitfromobservation，thenewsofhisapproachingdeathspreadthroughthetown，andtheheirsbegantorunhitherandthitherthroughthestreets，likethepearlsofachapletwhenthestringisbroken。Massincalledatthehousetolearnthetruth，andwastoldbyUrsulaherselfthatthedoctorwasinbed。
　　TheNemoursdoctorhadremarkedthatwheneveroldMinorettooktohisbedhewoulddie；andthereforeinspiteofthecold，theheirstooktheirstandinthestreet，onthesquare，attheirowndoorsteps，talkingoftheeventsolonglookedfor，andwatchingforthemomentwhenthepriestsshouldappear，bearingthesacrament，withalltheparaphernaliacustomaryintheprovinces，tothedyingman。
　　Accordingly，twodayslater，whentheAbbeChaperon，withanassistantandthechoir-boys，precededbythesacristanbearingthecross，passedalongtheGrand’Rue，alltheheirsjoinedtheprocession，togetanentrancetothehouseandseethatnothingwasabstracted，andlaytheireagerhandsuponitscovetedtreasuresattheearliestmoment。
　　Whenthedoctorsaw，behindtheclergy，therowofkneelingheirs，whoinsteadofprayingwerelookingathimwitheyesthatwerebrighterthanthetapers，hecouldnotrestrainasmile。Theabbeturnedround，sawthem，andcontinuedtosaytheprayersslowly。Thepostmasterwasthefirsttoabandonthekneelingposture；hiswifefollowedhim。
　　Massin，fearingthatZelieandherhusbandmightlayhandsonsomeornament，joinedtheminthesalon，wherealltheheirswerepresentlyassembledonebyone。
　　“Heistoohonestamantostealextremeunction，“saidCremiere；“wemaybesureofhisdeathnow。“
　　“Yes，weshalleachgetabouttwentythousandfrancsayear，“repliedMadameMassin。
　　“Ihaveanidea，“saidZelie，“thatforthelastthreeyearshehasn’tinvestedanything——hegrewfondofhoarding。“
　　“Perhapsthemoneyisinthecellar，“whisperedMassintoCremiere。
　　“Ihopeweshallbeabletofindit，“saidMinoret-Levrault。
　　“Butafterwhathesaidattheballwecan’thaveanydoubt，“criedMadameMassin。
　　“Inanycase，“beganCremiere，“howshallwemanage？Shallwedivide；
　　shallwegotolaw；orcouldwedrawlots？Weareadults，youknow——“
　　Adiscussion，whichsoonbecameangry，nowaroseastothemethodofprocedure。Attheendofhalfanhouraperfectuproarofvoices，Zelie’sscreechingorgandetachingitselffromtherest，resoundedinthecourtyardandeveninthestreet。
　　Thenoisereachedthedoctor’sears；heheardthewords，“Thehouse——
　　thehouseisworththirtythousandfrancs。I’lltakeitatthat，“
　　said，orratherbellowedbyCremiere。
　　“Well，we’lltakewhatit’sworth，“saidZelie，sharply。
　　“Monsieurl’abbe，“saidtheoldmantothepriest，whoremainedbesidehisfriendafteradministeringthecommunion，“helpmetodieinpeace。Myheirs，likethoseofCardinalXimenes，arecapableofpillagingthehousebeforemydeath，andIhavenomonkeytoreviveme。GoandtellthemIwillhavenoneoftheminmyhouse。“
　　Thepriestandthedoctorofthetownwentdownstairsandrepeatedthemessageofthedyingman，adding，intheirindignation，strongwordsoftheirown。
　　“MadameBougival，“saidthedoctor，“closetheirongateandallownoonetoenter；eventhedying，itseems，canhavenopeace。PreparemustardpoulticesandapplythemtothesolesofMonsieur’sfeet。“
　　“Youruncleisnotdead，“saidtheabbe，“andhemaylivesometimelonger。Hewishesforabsolutesilence，andnoonebesidehimbuthisniece。Whatadifferencebetweentheconductofthatyounggirlandyours！“
　　“Oldhypocrite！“exclaimedCremiere。“Ishallkeepwatchofhim。Itispossiblehe’splottingsomethingagainstourinterests。“
　　Thepostmasterhadalreadydisappearedintothegarden，intendingtowatchthereandwaithischancetobeadmittedtothehouseasanassistant。Henowreturnedtoitverysoftly，hisbootsmakingnonoise，fortherewerecarpetsonthestairsandcorridors。Hewasabletoreachthedoorofhisuncle’sroomwithoutbeingheard。Theabbeandthedoctorhadleftthehouse；LaBougivalwasmakingthepoultices。
　　“Arewequitealone？“saidtheoldmantohisgodchild。
　　Ursulastoodontiptoeandlookedintothecourtyard。
　　“Yes，“shesaid；“theabbehasjustclosedthegateafterhim。“
　　“Mydarlingchild，“saidthedyingman，“myhours，myminuteseven，arecounted。Ihavenotbeenadoctorfornothing；Ishallnotlasttillevening。Donotcry，myUrsula，“hesaid，fearingtobeinterruptedbythechild’sweeping，“butlistentomecarefully；itconcernsyourmarriagetoSavinien。AssoonasLaBougivalcomesbackgodowntothepagoda，——hereisthekey，——liftthemarbletopoftheBoulebuffetandyouwillfindaletterbeneathit，sealedandaddressedtoyou；takeitandcomebackhere，forIcannotdieeasyunlessIseeitinyourhands。WhenIamdeaddonotletanyoneknowofitimmediately，butsendforMonsieurdePortenduere；readthelettertogether；sweartomenow，inhisnameandyourown，thatyouwillcarryoutmylastwishes。WhenSavinienhasobeyedme，thenannouncemydeath，butnottillthen。Thecomedyoftheheirswillbegin。Godgrantthosemonstersmaynotill-treatyou。“
　　“Yesgodfather。“
　　Thepostmasterdidnotlistentotheendofthisscene；heslippedawayontip-toe，rememberingthatthelockofthestudywasonthelibrarysideofthedoor。Hehadbeenpresentinformerdaysatanargumentbetweenthearchitectandalocksmith，thelatterdeclaringthatifthepagodawereenteredbythewindowontheriveritwouldbemuchsafertoputthelockofthedooropeningintothelibraryonthelibraryside。Dazzledbyhishopes，andhisearsflushedwithblood，Minoretsprangthelockwiththepointofhisknifeasrapidlyasaburglarcouldhavedoneit。Heenteredthestudy，followedthedoctor’sdirections，tookthepackageofpaperswithoutopeningit，relockedthedoor，puteverythinginorder，andwentintothedining-
　　roomandsatdown，waitingtillLaBougivalhadgoneupstairswiththepoulticebeforeheventuredtoleavethehouse。Hethenmadehisescape，——allthemoreeasilybecausepoorUrsulalingeredtoseethatLaBougivalappliedthepoulticeproperly。
　　“Theletter！theletter！“criedtheoldman，inadyingvoice。“Obeyme；takethekey。Imustseeyouwiththatletterinyourhand。“
　　ThewordsweresaidwithsowildalookthatLaBougivalexclaimedtoUrsula:——
　　“Dowhatheasksatonceoryouwillkillhim。“
　　Shekissedhisforehead，tookthekeyandwentdown。Amomentlater，recalledbyacryfromLaBougival，sheranback。Theoldmanlookedathereagerly。Seeingherhandsempty，heroseinhisbed，triedtospeak，anddiedwithahorriblegasp，hiseyeshaggardwithfear。Thepoorgirl，whosawdeathforthefirsttime，fellonherkneesandburstintotears。LaBougivalclosedtheoldman’seyesandstraightenedhimonthebed；thensherantocallSavinien；buttheheirs，whostoodatthecornerofthestreet，likecrowswatchingtillahorseisburiedbeforetheyscratchatthegroundandturnitoverwithbeakandclaw，flockedinwiththecelerityofbirdsofprey。