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la Motte would have decidedly preferred to receive cash for the estate, he felt that he could not afford to lose such a purchaser, and it was finally agreed that Desrües should pay Madame de la Motte 12,000 livres upon the day the contract was signed, 18,000 livres in three months, and the balance in two yearly payments. Desrües returned to Paris delighted with his transaction. The times for payment were yet a long way off. His friend, Bertin, would furnish the funds necessary for the first pay ment; and once in possession of BuissonSoiief, the future might take care of itself. Madame de la Motte, eager to Conclude the transaction, again repaired to Paris, and on the 22d of December, 1775, obtained from Desrües and his wife a note for 4,200 livres to bind the bargain, and an agreement by which they promised to pay the amount agreed upon, but at a time as yet undeter mined, the delay in the settlement of the Despeignes estate rendering the payment of the first 12,000 livres impossible for the present. A short time after this, Desrües made a second visit to Buisson-Soiief. He an nounced that there was every prospect of a speedy settlement of the contract; and succeeded in again winning the entire con fidence of M. de la Motte, whose faith in the intentions of this purchaser had been some what shaken by the long delay. The note given to bind the bargain was not paid at maturity, and toward the end of March Desrües wrote that it was impos sible for him to take it up. The settlement of the Despeignes estate had required all his resources. The De la Mottes were naturally much disturbed. Desrües wrote them reas suring letters, and announced that he should shortly revisit Buisson-Soiief. On the 28th of May he arrived, accom panied by a servant and his little daughter, a pretty child about three years of age. The new-comers were received with open arms, and every arrangement made for their com fort. On leaving Paris, Desrües had given

his wife secret and minute instructions, and had charged Bertin to put his creditors off the scent. His plan had already been ar ranged as to the persons at Buisson-Soiief, and we shall see with what skill and perse verance he carried it out. At the first lamentations of Madame de la Motte as to the embarrassment which his delay had caused them, Desrües replied gen tly but in a peremptory fashion, like a man who was in his own house, who regretted that he could not at once oblige a friend, but was certain of being able to do so in a short time. La Motte, more reassured than his wife, soon recovered his accustomed spirits. He took Desrües aside, and with out reproaches, with a sort of embarrassment even, exposed to him his money difficulties, — the household bills, the workmen and farm hands to pay, repairs to make, and a thou sand other expenses. In such cases the good Desrües opened the strings of his purse and paid the bills. The money furnished by Ber tin served for these advances, and established the purchaser of Buisson-Soiief all the more firmly on his property. Little by little the De la Mottes came to consider themselves as administrators of the estate for the benefit of Desrües. By his gentle manner, his acts of charity, and his professed piety, Desrües soon gained the good-will of the entire neighborhood, and no one would allow a word to be spoken against the character of this saintly man. Once firmly established at Buisson-Soiief, Desrües responded with less alacrity to the incessant demands for money addressed to him by M. de la Motte. Instructed by him, advised in advance of letters written and furnished with the proper responses to the same, the wife of Desrües replied to the questions of M. de la Motte as to the probable conclusion of the transaction. Upon the receipt of her letters, La Motte wrote a most piteous appeal to M. Jolly. The procureur, overwhelmed with business, kept promising that he would look into the mat ter. He met Bertin one day at the Palais,