Page:Novels of Honoré de Balzac Volume 23.djvu/271

 And so just as the postmaster was sitting down, he saw appearing at the gate the excited face of the justice’s clerk, who was returning with all a weasel’s speed to the dead man’s house.

“Well, what is the matter?” asked the postmaster, going to let in his co-heir.

“Nothing; I have come back for the seals,” replied Massin, darting the look of a wildcat at him.

“I wish they were already fixed, and we could all go home,” rejoined Minoret.

“Faith! we will place a watchman over the seals,” said the clerk. “La Bougival is capable of anything in the interests of the little humbug. We will get Goupil.”

“Goupil?” said the postmaster. “He will take the money-box and we shall see nothing of it.”

“Let me see!” rejoined Massin. “To-night, they will watch the dead, and we shall have finished affixing the seals in an hour’s time; and so our wives will themselves guard them. To-morrow, at midday we shall have the funeral. We cannot proceed to the inventory for eight days.”

“But,” said the giant, smiling, “we will make the little humbug pack off, and we will put the mayor’s drummer in charge of the seals and the house.”

“Very well,” cried the justice’s clerk, “you must undertake this expedition, you are head of the Minorets.”

“Mesdames, mesdames,” said Minoret, “will you all please remain in the salon; it is not a question