“Giveustimetothinkitover。“
　　HewalkedhomewithMinoret，applaudingthesolicitudeshownbythefatherforhisson’sinterests，andslightlyblamingUrsulaforherhastydecision。AssoonasMinoretwaswithinhisowngate，Bongrandwenttotheposthouse，borrowedahorseandcabriolet，andstartedforFontainebleau，wherehewenttoseethedeputyprocureur，andwastoldthathewasspendingtheeveningatthehouseofthesub-prefect。
　　Bongrand，delighted，followedhimthere。Desirewasplayingwhistwiththewifeoftheprocureurduroi，thewifeofthesub-prefect，andthecoloneloftheregimentingarrison。
　　“Icometobringyousomegoodnews，“saidBongrandtoDesire；“youloveyourcousinUrsula，andthemarriagecanbearranged。“
　　“IloveUrsulaMirouet！“criedDesire，laughing。“Wheredidyougetthatidea？IdorememberseeinghersometimesatthelateDoctorMinoret’s；shecertainlyisabeauty；butsheisdreadfullypious。I
　　certainlytooknoticeofhercharms，butImustsayInevertroubledmyheadseriouslyforthatratherinsipidlittleblonde，“headded，smilingatthesub-prefect’swifewhowasapiquantebrunette——touseatermofthelastcentury。“Youaredreaming，mydearMonsieurBongrand；Ithoughteveryoneknewthatmyfatherwasalordofamanor，witharentrollofforty-fivethousandfrancsayearfromlandsaroundhischateauatRouvre，——goodreasonswhyIshouldnotlovethegoddaughterofmylategreat-uncle。IfIweretomarryagirlwithoutapennytheseladieswouldconsidermeafool。“
　　“HaveyounevertormentedyourfathertoletyoumarryUrsula？“
　　“Never。“
　　“Youhearthat，monsieur？“saidthejusticetotheprocureurduroi，whohadbeenlisteningtotheconversation，leadinghimasideintotherecessofawindow，wheretheyremainedinconversationforaquarterofanhour。
　　AnhourlaterBongrandwasbackinNemours，atUrsula’shouse，whencehesentLaBougivaltoMinorettobeghisattendance。Thecolossuscameatonce。
　　“Mademoiselle——“beganBongrand，addressingMinoretasheenteredtheroom。
　　“Accepts？“criedMinoret，interruptinghim。
　　“No，notyet，“repliedBongrand，fingeringhisglasses。“Ihadscruplesastoyourson’sfeelings；forUrsulahasbeenmuchtriedlatelyaboutasupposedlover。Weknowtheimportanceoftranquillity。
　　CanyousweartomethatyoursontrulylovesherandthatyouhavenootherintentionthantopreserveourdearUrsulafromanyfurtherGoupilisms？“
　　“Oh，I’llsweartothat，“criedMinoret。
　　“Stop，papaMinoret，“saidthejustice，takingonehandfromthepocketofhistrouserstoslapMinoretontheshoulderthecolossustrembled；“Don’tswearfalsely。“
　　“Swearfalsely？“
　　“Yes，eitheryouoryourson，whohasjustswornatFontainebleau，inpresenceoffourpersonsandtheprocureurduroi，thathehasnevereventhoughtofhiscousinUrsula。Youhaveotherreasonsforofferingthisfortune。Isawyouwereinventingthattale，andwentmyselftoFontainebleautoquestionyourson。“
　　Minoretwasdumbfoundedathisownfolly。
　　“Butwhere’stheharm，MonsieurBongrand，inproposingtoayoungrelativetohelponamarriagewhichseemstobeforherhappiness，andtoinventpretextstoconquerherreluctancetoacceptthemoney。“
　　Minoret，whosedangersuggestedtohimanexcusewhichwasalmostadmissible，wipedhisforehead，wetwithperspiration。
　　“Youknowthecauseofmyrefusal，“saidUrsula；“andIrequestyounevertocomehereagain。ThoughMonsieurdePortenduerehasnottoldmehisreason，Iknowthathefeelssuchcontemptforyou，suchdislikeeven，thatIcannotreceiveyouintomyhouse。Myhappinessismyonlyfortune，——Idonotblushtosayso；Ishallnotriskit。
　　MonsieurdePortenduereisonlywaitingformymajoritytomarryme。“
　　“Thentheoldsawthat’Moneydoesall’isalie，“saidMinoret，lookingatthejusticeofpeace，whoseobservingeyesannoyedhimsomuch。
　　Heroseandleftthehouse，but，onceoutside，hefoundtheairasoppressiveasinthelittlesalon。
　　“Theremustbeanendputtothis，“hesaidtohimselfashere-
　　enteredhisownhome。
　　WhenUrsulacamedown，bringhercertificatesandthoseofLaBougival，shefoundMonsieurBongrandwalkingupanddownthesalonwithgreatstrides。
　　“Haveyounoideawhattheconductofthathugeidiotmeans？“hesaid。
　　“NonethatIcantell，“shereplied。
　　Bongrandlookedatherwithinquiringsurprise。
　　“Thenwehavethesameidea，“hesaid。“Here，keepthenumberofyourcertificates，incaseIlosethem；youshouldalwaystakethatprecaution。“
　　Bongrandhimselfwrotethenumberofthetwocertificates，hersandthatofLaBougival，andgavethemtoher。
　　“Adieu，mychild，Ishallbegonetwodays，butyouwillseemeonthethird。“
　　ThatnighttheapparitionappearedtoUrsulainasingularmanner。ShethoughtherbedwasinthecemeteryofNemours，andthatheruncle’sgravewasatthefootofit。Thewhitestone，onwhichshereadtheinscription，opened，likethecoverofanoblongalbum。Sheutteredapiercingcry，butthedoctor’sspectreslowlyrose。Firstshesawhisyellowhead，withitsfringeofwhitehair，whichshoneasifsurmountedbyahalo。Beneaththebaldforeheadtheeyeswereliketwogleamsoflight；thedeadmanroseasifimpelledbysomesuperiorforceorwill。Ursula’sbodytrembled；herfleshwaslikeaburninggarment，andtherewasasshesubsequentlysaidanotherselfmovingwithinherbodilypresence。“Mercy！“shecried，“mercy，godfather！“
　　“Itistoolate，“hesaid，inthevoiceofdeath，——tousethepoorgirl’sownexpressionwhensherelatedthisnewdreamtotheabbe。“Hehasbeenwarned；hehaspaidnoheedtothewarning。Thedaysofhissonarenumbered。Ifhedoesnotconfessallandrestorewhathehastakenwithinacertaintimehemustlosehisson，whowilldieaviolentandhorribledeath。Lethimknowthis。“Thespectrepointedtoalineoffigureswhichgleameduponthesideofthetombasifwrittenwithfire，andsaid，“Thereishisdoom。“WhenherunclelaydownagaininhisgraveUrsulaheardthesoundofthestonefallingbackintoitsplace，andimmediatelyafter，inthedistance，astrangesoundofhorsesandthecriesofmen。
　　ThenextdayUrsulawasprostrate。Shecouldnotrise，soterriblyhadthedreamovercomeher。ShebeggedhernursetofindtheAbbeChaperonandbringhimtoher。Thegoodpriestcameassoonashehadsaidmass，buthewasnotsurprisedatUrsula’srevelation。Hebelievedtherobberyhadbeencommitted，andnolongertriedtoexplaintohimselftheabnormalconditionofhis“littledreamer。“HeleftUrsulaatonceandwentdirectlytoMinoret’s。
　　“Monsieurl’abbe，“saidZelie，“myhusband’stemperissosouredI
　　don’tknowwhathemightn’tdo。Untilnowhe’sbeenachild；butforthelasttwomonthshe’snotthesameman。Togetangryenoughtostrikeme——me，sogentle！Theremustbesomethingdreadfulthemattertochangehimlikethat。You’llfindhimamongtherocks；hespendsallhistimethere，——doingwhat，I’dliketoknow？“
　　InspiteoftheheatitwasthenSeptember，1836，theabbecrossedthecanalandtookapathwhichledtothebaseofoneoftherocks，wherehesawMinoret。
　　“Youaregreatlytroubled，MonsieurMinoret，“saidthepriestgoinguptohim。“Youbelongtomebecauseyousuffer。Unhappily，Icometoincreaseyourpain。Ursulahadaterribledreamlastnight。Youruncleliftedthestonefromhisgraveandcameforthtoprophecyagreatdisasterinyourfamily。Icertainlyamnotheretofrightenyou；butyououghttoknowwhathesaid——“
　　“Ican’tbeeasyanywhere，MonsieurChaperon，notevenamongtheserocks，andI’msureIdon’twanttoknowanythingthatisgoingoninanotherworld。“
　　“ThenIwillleaveyou，monsieur；Ididnottakethishotwalkforpleasure，“saidtheabbe，moppinghisforehead。
　　“Well，whatdoyouwanttosay？“demandedMinoret。
　　“Youarethreatenedwiththelossofyourson。Ifthedeadmantoldthingsthatyoualoneknow，onemustneedstremblewhenhetellsthingsthatnoonecanknowtilltheyhappen。Makerestitution，Isay，makerestitution。Don’tdamnyoursoulforalittlemoney。“
　　“Restitutionofwhat？“
　　“ThefortunethedoctorintendedforUrsula。Youtookthosethreecertificates——Iknowitnow。Youbeganbypersecutingthatpoorgirl，andyouendbyofferingherafortune；youhavestumbledintolies，youhavetangledyourselfupinthisnet，andyouaretakingfalsestepseveryday。Youareveryclumsyandunskilful；youraccompliceGoupilhasservedyouill；hesimplylaughsatyou。Makehasteandclearyourmind，foryouarewatchedbyintelligentandpenetratingeyes，——thoseofUrsula’sfriends。Makerestitution！andifyoudonotsaveyoursonwhomaynotreallybethreatened，youwillsaveyoursoul，andyouwillsaveyourhonor。Doyoubelievethatinasocietylikeours，inalittletownlikethis，whereeverybody’seyesareeverywhere，andallthingsareguessedandallthingsareknown，youcanlonghideastolenfortune？Come，myson，aninnocentmanwouldn’thaveletmetalksolong。“
　　“Gotothedevil！“criedMinoret。“Idon’tknowwhatyouALLmeanbypersecutingme。Ipreferthesestones——theyleavemeinpeace。“
　　“Farewell，then；Ihavewarnedyou。NeitherthepoorgirlnorIhavesaidasinglewordaboutthistoanylivingperson。Buttakecare——
　　thereisamanwhohashiseyeuponyou。MayGodhavepityuponyou！“