Page:Novels of Honoré de Balzac Volume 23.djvu/334

 Lecœur was in too great fear of Goupil to complain. Immediately after, all Nemours learnt that Minoret became security to Dionis to facilitate the purchase of his practice for Goupil. The future notary wrote to Savinien refuting his confessions about Minoret, while telling the young nobleman that his new position, the laws adopted by the Supreme Court and his respect for justice forbade him to fight Moreover, he warned the gentleman to treat him well thereafter, for he could kick extremely well, and at the first assault he vowed he would break his leg.

The walls of Nemours spoke no more. But the quarrel between Minoret and his wife endured, and Savinien maintained a savage silence. The marriage of the eldest Mademoiselle Massin with the future notary ten days after these events, was common talk. Mademoiselle Massin, on her side, had eighty thousand francs and her plainness, Goupil had his deformity and his practice; so this union seemed both probable and suitable.

Two lurking strangers seized Goupil in the road at midnight, just as he was coming out of Massin’s house, beat him with a stick and disappeared. Goupil observed the deepest secrecy about this nocturnal scene, and contradicted an old woman who fancied she had recognized him upon looking out of her window.

These important trifling events were pondered by the justice of the peace, who discovered that Goupil possessed some mysterious power over Minoret, and determined to find out the cause.