Page:Novels of Honoré de Balzac Volume 23.djvu/159

 they would go as far as the Court of Appeal, and I would not be sure of being still alive when this suit came on.”

“The best of lawsuits is no longer good for anything,” cried the doctor, “I also see the memorandum on this question: To what extent should the incapacity be carried which, in the matter of inheritance, strikes natural children? and a good lawyer’s pride consists in winning desperate cases.”

“Faith!” said Bongrand, “I would not dare undertake to affirm that the magistrates would not extend the interpretation of the law so as to extend the protection granted to marriage, the eternal foundation of all society.”

Without declaring his intentions, the old man rejected the legacy trust. But, as to the question of a marriage that Bongrand suggested to him as a means of securing his fortune for Ursule:

“Poor little girl!” cried the doctor, “I am capable of living another fifteen years, what would become of her?”

“Well then, what do you think of doing?” said Bongrand.

“We will think it over—I will see,” replied the old doctor, evidently at a loss for an answer.

At that moment, Ursule came to inform the two friends that Dionis wished to speak to the doctor.

“Dionis already!” cried Minoret, looking at the justice of the peace. “Yes,” he replied to Ursule, “let him come in.”

“I’ll wager my spectacles against a match, that