Page:Novels of Honoré de Balzac Volume 23.djvu/346

 “Monsieur Bongrand, I have something rather important to say to my cousin,” he said, taking the justice by the arm, “and I am glad to see you, you may be able to advise her.”

They found Ursule practising; she rose with a cold and stately manner upon seeing Minoret.

“My child, Monsieur Minoret wants to talk business with you,” said the justice of the peace. “By-the-bye, do not forget to give me your bonds; I am going to Paris, and will collect yours and La Bougival’s dividends.”

“Cousin,” said Minoret, “our uncle had accustomed you to greater comfort than you now have.”

“One can be very happy with little money,” she said.

“I was thinking that money might increase your happiness,” rejoined Minoret, “and I was coming to offer some to you, out of respect for my uncle’s memory.”

“There was a simple way of showing your respect for him,” said Ursule severely. “You might have left his house as it was and sold it to me, for you only raised it to so high a price in the hopes of finding some treasure—”

“Well,” said Minoret, evidently depressed, “if you had twelve thousand francs a year, you would be in a position to marry more advantageously.”

“I have not got it.”

“But if I were to give it to you, on condition that you bought an estate in Brittany, the native