WhereuponheleftthemabruptlytoreflectwithadmirationonthewaysbywhichProvidencehadbroughttheinnocenttovictory。
　　“ThefingerofGodisinallthis，“criedtheabbe。
　　“Willtheypunishhim？“askedUrsula。
　　“Ah，mademoiselle，“criedLaBougival。“I’dgivetheropetohanghim。“
　　BongrandwasalreadyatGoupil’s，nowtheappointedsuccessorofDionis，butheenteredtheofficewithacarelessair。“IhavealittlemattertoverifyabouttheMinoretproperty，“hesaidtoGoupil。
　　“Whatisit？“askedthelatter。
　　“Thedoctorleftoneormorecertificatesinthethree-per-centFunds？“
　　“Heleftoneforfifteenthousandfrancsayear，“saidGoupil；“I
　　recordeditmyself。“
　　“Thenjustlookontheinventory，“saidBongrand。
　　Goupiltookdownabox，huntedthroughit，drewoutapaper，foundtheplace，andread:——
　　“’Item，onecertificate’——Here，readforyourself——underthenumber23，533，letterM。“
　　“Domethekindnesstoletmehaveacopyofthatclausewithinanhour，“saidBongrand。
　　“Whatgoodisittoyou？“askedGoupil。
　　“Doyouwanttobeanotary？“answeredthejusticeofpeace，lookingsternlyatDionis’sproposedsuccessor。
　　“OfcourseIdo，“criedGoupil。“I’veswallowedtoomanyaffrontsnottosucceednow。Ibegyoutobelieve，monsieur，thatthemiserablecreatureoncecalledGoupilhasnothingincommonwithMaitreJean-
　　Sebastien-MarieGoupil，notaryofNemoursandhusbandofMademoiselleMassin。Thetwobeingsdonotknoweachother。Theyarenolongerevenalike。Lookatme！“
　　ThusadjuredMonsieurBongrandtooknoticeofGoupil’sclothes。Thenewnotaryworeawhitecravat，ashirtofdazzlingwhitenessadornedwithrubybuttons，awaistcoatofredvelvet，withtrousersandcoatofhandsomeblackbroad-cloth，madeinParis。Hisbootswereneat；hishair，carefullycombed，wasperfumed——inshorthewasmetamorphosed。
　　“Thefactisyouareanotherman，“saidBongrand。
　　“Morallyaswellasphysically。Virtuecomeswithpractice——apractice；besides，moneyisthesourceofcleanliness——“
　　“Morallyaswellasphysically，“returnedBongrand，settlinghisspectacles。
　　“Ha！monsieur，isamanworthahundredthousandfrancsayeareverademocrat？Considermeinfutureasanhonestmanwhoknowswhatrefinementis，andwhointendstolovehiswife，“saidGoupil；“andwhat’smore，Ishallpreventmyclientsfromeverdoingdirtyactions。“
　　“Well，makehaste，“saidBongrand。“Letmehavethatcopyinanhour，andnotaryGoupilwillhaveundonesomeoftheevildeedsofGoupiltheclerk。“
　　AfteraskingtheNemoursdoctortolendhimhishorseandcabriolet，hewentbacktoUrsula’shouseforthetwoimportantvolumesandforherowncertificateofFunds；then，armedwiththeextractfromtheinventory，hedrovetoFontainebleauandhadaninterviewwiththeprocureurduroi。Bongrandeasilyconvincedthatofficialofthetheftofthethreecertificatesbyoneorotheroftheheirs，——presumablybyMinoret。
　　“Hisconductisexplained，“saidtheprocureur。
　　AsameasureofprecautionthemagistrateatoncenotifiedtheTreasurytowithholdtransferofthesaidcertificates，andtoldBongrandtogotoParisandascertainiftheshareshadeverbeensold。HethenwroteapolitenotetoMadameMinoretrequestingherpresence。
　　Zelie，veryuneasyaboutherson’sduel，dressedherselfatonce，hadthehorsesputtohercarriageandhurriedtoFontainebleau。Theprocureur’splanwassimpleenough。Byseparatingthewifefromthehusband，andbringingtheterrorsofthelawtobearuponher，heexpectedtolearnthetruth。Zeliefoundtheofficialinhisprivateofficeandwasutterlyannihilatedwhenheaddressedherasfollows:——
　　“Madame，“hesaid；“IdonotbelieveyouareanaccompliceinatheftthathasbeencommittedupontheMinoretproperty，onthetrackofwhichthelawisnowproceeding。Butyoucanspareyourhusbandtheshameofappearingintheprisoner’sdockbymakingafullconfessionofwhatyouknowaboutit。Thepunishmentwhichyourhusbandhasincurredis，moreover，nottheonlythingtobedreaded。Yourson’scareeristobethoughtof；youmustavoiddestroyingthat。Halfanhourhencewillbetoolate。ThepolicearealreadyunderordersforNemours，thewarrantismadeout。“
　　Zelienearlyfainted；whensherecoveredhersensessheconfessedeverything。Afterprovingtoherthatshewasinpointoffactanaccomplice，themagistratetoldherthatifshedidnotwishtoinjureeithersonorhusbandshemustbehavewiththeutmostprudence。
　　“Youhavenowtodowithmeasanindividual，notasamagistrate，“hesaid。“Nocomplainthasbeenlodgedbythevictim，norhasanypublicitybeengiventothetheft。Butyourhusbandhascommittedagreatcrime，whichmaybebroughtbeforeajudgelessinclinedthanmyselftobeconsiderate。InthepresentstateoftheaffairIamobligedtomakeyouaprisoner——oh，inmyownhouse，onparole，“headded，seeingthatZeliewasabouttofaint。“Youmustrememberthatmyofficialdutywouldrequiremetoissueawarrantatonceandbeginanexamination；butIamactingnowindividually，asguardianofMademoiselleUrsulaMirouet，andherbestinterestsdemandacompromise。“
　　“Ah！“exclaimedZelie。
　　“Writetoyourhusbandinthefollowingwords，“hecontinued，placingZelieathisdeskandproceedingtodictatetheletter:——
　　“MyFriend，——Iamarrested，andIhavetoldall。ReturnthecertificateswhichunclelefttoMonsieurdePortenduereinthewillwhichyouburned；fortheprocureurduroihasstoppedpaymentattheTreasury。“
　　“Youwillthussavehimfromthedenialshewouldotherwiseattempttomake，“saidthemagistrate，smilingatZelie’sorthography。“Wewillseethattherestitutionisproperlymade。Mywifewillmakeyourstayinourhouseasagreeableaspossible。Iadviseyoutosaynothingofthematterandnottoappearanxiousorunhappy。“
　　NowthatZeliehadconfessedandwassafelyimmured，themagistratesentforDesire，toldhimalltheparticularsofhisfather’stheft，whichwasreallytoUrsula’sinjury，but，asmattersstood，legallytothatofhisco-heirs，andshowedhimtheletterwrittenbyhismother。
　　DesireatonceaskedtobeallowedtogotoNemoursandseethathisfathermadeimmediaterestitution。
　　“Itisaveryseriousmatter，“saidthemagistrate。“Thewillhavingbeendestroyed，ifthemattergetswind，theco-heirs，MassinandCremieremayputinaclaim。Ihaveproofenoughagainstyourfather。
　　Iwillreleaseyourmother，forIthinkthelittleceremonythathasalreadytakenplacehasbeensufficientwarningastoherduty。Toher，Iwillseemtohaveyieldedtoyourentreatiesinreleasingher。
　　TakeherwithyoutoNemours，andmanagethewholematterasbestyoucan。Don’tfearanyone。MonsieurBongrandlovesUrsulaMirouettoowelltoletthematterbecomeknown。“
　　ZelieandDesirestartedsoonafterforNemours。Threehourslatertheprocureurduroireceivedbyamountedmessengerthefollowingletter，theorthographyofwhichhasbeencorrectedsoasnottobringridiculeonamancrushedbyaffliction。
　　ToMonsieurleprocureurduroiatFontainebleau:
　　Monsieur，——Godislesskindtousthanyou；wehavemetwithanirreparablemisfortune。WhenmywifeandsonreachedthebridgeatNemoursatracebecameunhooked。Therewasnoservantbehindthecarriage；thehorsessmeltthestable；myson，fearingtheirimpatience，jumpeddowntohookthetraceratherthanhavethecoachmanleavethebox。Asheturnedtoresumehisplaceinthecarriagebesidehismotherthehorsesstarted；Desiredidnotstepbackagainsttheparapetintime；thestepofthecarriagecutthroughbothlegsandhefell，thehindwheelpassingoverhisbody。ThemessengerwhogoestoParisforthebestsurgeonwillbringyouthisletter，whichmysoninthemidstofhissufferingsdesiresmetowritesoastoletyouknowourentiresubmissiontoyourdecisionsinthematteraboutwhichhewascomingtospeaktome。
　　Ishallbegratefultoyoutomydyingdayforthemannerinwhichyouhaveacted，andIwilldeserveyourgoodness。
　　FrancoisMinoret。
　　ThiscrueleventconvulsedthewholetownofNemours。ThecrowdsstandingaboutthegateoftheMinorethousewerethefirsttotellSavinienthathisvengeancehadbeentakenbyahandmorepowerfulthanhisown。HewentatoncetoUrsula’shouse，wherehefoundboththeabbeandtheyounggirlmoredistressedthansurprised。
　　Thenextday，afterthewoundsweredressed，andthedoctorsandsurgeonsfromParishadgiventheiropinionthatbothlegsmustbeamputated，Minoretwent，pale，humbled，andbrokendown，accompaniedbytheabbe，toUrsula’shouse，wherehefoundalsoMonsieurBongrandandSavinien。
　　“Mademoiselle，“hesaid；“Iamveryguiltytowardsyou；butifallthewrongsIhavedoneyouarenotwhollyreparable，therearesomethatI
　　canexpiate。MywifeandIhavemadeavowtomakeovertoyouinabsolutepossessionourestateatRouvreincaseoursonrecovers，andalsoincasewehavethedreadfulsorrowoflosinghim。“
　　Heburstintotearsashesaidthelastwords。
　　“Icanassureyou，mydearUrsula，“saidtheabbe，“thatyoucanandthatyououghttoacceptapartofthisgift。“
　　“Willyouforgiveme？“saidMinoret，humblykneelingbeforetheastonishedgirl。“TheoperationisabouttobeperformedbythefirstsurgeonoftheHotel-Dieu；butIdonottrusttohumanscience，IrelyonlyonthepowerofGod。Ifyouwillforgiveus，ifyouaskGodtorestoreoursontous，hewillhavestrengthtobeartheagonyandweshallhavethejoyofsavinghim。“
　　“Letusgotothechurch！“criedUrsula，rising。
　　Butasshegainedherfeet，apiercingcrycamefromherlips，andshefellbackwardfainting。Whenhersensesreturned，shesawherfriends——butnotMinoretwhohadrushedforadoctor——lookingatherwithanxiouseyes，seekinganexplanation。Asshegaveit，terrorfilledtheirhearts。
　　“Isawmygodfatherstandinginthedoorway，“shesaid，“andhesignedtomethattherewasnohope。“
　　ThedayaftertheoperationDesiredied，——carriedoffbythefeverandtheshocktothesystemthatsucceedoperationsofthisnature。MadameMinoret，whosehearthadnoothertenderfeelingthanmaternity，becameinsaneaftertheburialofherson，andwastakenbyherhusbandtotheestablishmentofDoctorBlanche，whereshediedin1841。
　　Threemonthsaftertheseevents，inJanuary，1837，UrsulamarriedSavinienwithMadamedePortenduere’sconsent。MinorettookpartinthemarriagecontractandinsistedongivingMademoiselleMirouethisestateatRouvreandanincomeoftwenty-fourthousandfrancsfromtheFunds；keepingforhimselfonlyhisuncle’shouseandtenthousandfrancsayear。Hehasbecomethemostcharitableofmen，andthemostreligious；heischurchwardenoftheparish，andhasmadehimselftheprovidenceoftheunfortunate。
　　“Thepoortaketheplaceofmyson，“hesaid。
　　Ifyouhaveevernoticedbythewayside，incountrieswheretheypolltheoaks，someoldtree，whitenedandasifblasted，stillthrowingoutitstwigsthoughitstrunkisrivenandseemstoimploretheaxe，youwillhaveanideaoftheoldpostmaster，withhiswhitehair，——
　　broken，emaciated，inwhomtheeldersofthetowncanseenotraceofthejovialdullardwhomyoufirstsawwatchingforhissonatthebeginningofthishistory；hedoesnoteventakehissnuffasheoncedid；hecarriessomethingmorenowthantheweightofhisbody。
　　Beholdinghim，wefeelthatthehandofGodwaslaiduponthatfiguretomakeitanawfulwarning。Afterhatingsoviolentlyhisuncle’sgodchildtheoldmannow，likeDoctorMinorethimself，hasconcentratedallhisaffectionsonher，andhasmadehimselfthemanagerofherpropertyinNemours。
　　MonsieurandMadamedePortenduerepassfivemonthsoftheyearinParis，wheretheyhaveboughtahandsomehouseintheFaubourgSaint-
　　Germain。MadamedePortendueretheelder，aftergivingherhouseinNemourstotheSistersofCharityforafreeschool，wenttoliveatRouvre，whereLaBougivalkeepstheporter’slodge。Cabirolle，theformerconductorofthe“Ducler，“amansixtyyearsofage，hasmarriedLaBougivalandthetwelvehundredfrancsayearwhichshepossessesbesidestheampleemolumentsofherplace。YoungCabirolleisMonsieurdePortenduere’scoachman。
　　IfyouhappentoseeintheChamps-Elyseesoneofthosecharminglittlelowcarriagescalled’escargots，’linedwithgraysilkandtrimmedwithblue，andcontainingaprettyyoungwomanwhomyouadmirebecauseherfaceiswreathedininnumerablefaircurls，hereyesluminousasforget-me-notsandfilledwithlove；ifyouseeherbendingslightlytowardsafineyoungman，and，ifyouare，foramoment，consciousofenvy——pauseandreflectthatthishandsomecouple，belovedofGod，havepaidtheirquotatothesorrowsoflifeintimesnowpast。ThesemarriedloversaretheVicomtedePortenduereandhiswife。ThereisnotanothersuchhomeinParisastheirs。
　　“ItisthesweetesthappinessIhaveeverseen，“saidtheComtessedel’Estorade，speakingofthemlately。
　　Blessthem，therefore，andbenotenvious；seekanUrsulaforyourselves，ayounggirlbroughtupbythreeoldmen，andbythebestofallmothers——adversity。
　　Goupil，whodoesservicetoeverybodyandisjustlyconsideredthewittiestmaninNemours，haswontheesteemofthelittletown，butheispunishedinhischildren，whoarericketyandhydrocephalous。
　　Dionis，hispredecessor，flourishesintheChamberofDeputies，ofwhichheisoneofthefinestornaments，tothegreatsatisfactionofthekingoftheFrench，whoseesMadameDionisatallhisballs。
　　MadameDionisrelatestothewholetownofNemourstheparticularsofherreceptionsattheTuileriesandthesplendorofthecourtofthekingoftheFrench。ShelordsitoverNemoursbymeansofthethrone，whichthereforemustbepopularinthelittletown。
　　Bongrandischief-justiceofthecourtofappealsatMelun。Hissonisinthewayofbecominganhonestattorney-general。
　　MadameCremierecontinuestomakeherdelightfulspeeches。Ontheoccasionofherdaughter’smarriage，sheexhortedhertobetheworkingcaterpillarofthehousehold，andtolookintoeverythingwiththeeyesofasphinx。Goupilismakingacollectionofher“slapsus-
　　linquies，“whichhecallsaCremiereana。
　　“WehavehadthegreatsorrowoflosingourgoodAbbeChaperon，“saidtheVicomtessedePortenduerethiswinter——havingnursedhimherselfduringhisillness。“Thewholecantoncametohisfuneral。Nemoursisveryfortunate，however，forthesuccessorofthatdearsaintisthevenerablecureofSaint-Lange。“
　　End