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 notary Dionis to imitate her ostentation. Goupil, whom the Minorets were endeavoring to exclude from their society like some disreputable person who might sully their splendor, was not invited until toward the end of July, one month after the inauguration of the private life led by the former owners of the stage. The head clerk, already alive to this intentional neglect, was obliged to adopt formal manners toward Désiré, who, since the exercise of his duties, had assumed a solemn and supercilious manner even with his family.

“Then you have forgotten all about Esther, now that you are in love with Mademoiselle Mirouët?” said Goupil to the deputy.

“In the first place, Esther is dead, monsieur. Then, I have never thought about Ursule,” replied the magistrate.

“Well then, what were you telling me, Papa Minoret?” cried Goupil very insolently.

Minoret, caught in the very act of lying by so formidable a man, would have been abashed but for the purpose for which he had invited Goupil to dinner, whilst recollecting the proposition once made by the head clerk, that he should prevent the marriage of Ursule and young Portenduère. For all answer, he hastily led the clerk to the far end of his garden.

“You will soon be twenty-eight, my dear fellow,” he said, “and I do not yet see you on the road to good fortune. I wish you well, for after all you have been my son’s friend. Listen to me: if you