Department of Seine et Marne, and for the benefit of her son, aged
thirty-six, an officer in the ex-Imperial Guards, whom the Marquis
d'Espard has placed by his influence in the King's Guards, as Major in
the First Regiment of Cuirassiers. These two persons, who in 1814 were
in extreme poverty, have since then purchased house-property of
considerable value; among other items, quite recently, a large house
in the Grand Rue Verte, where the said Jeanrenaud is laying out
considerable sums in order to settle there with the woman Jeanrenaud,
intending to marry: these sums amount already to more than a hundred
thousand francs. The marriage has been arranged by the intervention of
M. d'Espard with his banker, one Mongenod, whose niece he has asked in
marriage for the said Jeanrenaud, promising to use his influence to
procure him the title and dignity of baron. This has in fact been
secured by His Majesty's letters patent, dated December 29th of last
year, at the request of the Marquis d'Espard, as can be proved by His
Excellency the Keeper of the Seals, if the Court should think proper
to require his testimony.

"'That no reason, not even such as morality and the law would concur
in disapproving, can justify the influence which the said Mme.
Jeanrenaud exerts over M. d'Espard, who, indeed, sees her very seldom;
nor account for his strange affection for the said Baron Jeanrenaud,
Major with whom he has but little intercourse. And yet their power is
so considerable, that whenever they need money, if only to gratify a
mere whim, this lady, or her son----' Heh, heh! /No reason even such as
morality and the law concur in disapproving!/ What does the clerk or
the attorney mean to insinuate?" said Popinot.

Bianchon laughed.