everything. But I shall go to-morrow with my registrar to see M. le
Marquis, for this does not seem at all clear to me."

"Listen, my dear uncle, I have never asked the least little favor of
you that had to do with your legal functions; well, now I beg you to
show Madame d'Espard the kindness which her situation deserves. If she
came here, you would listen to her?"

"Yes."

"Well, then, go and listen to her in her own house. Madame d'Espard is
a sickly, nervous, delicate woman, who would faint in your rat-hole of
a place. Go in the evening, instead of accepting her dinner, since the
law forbids your eating or drinking at your client's expense."

"And does not the law forbid you from taking any legacy from your
dead?" said Popinot, fancying that he saw a touch of irony on his
nephew's lips.

"Come, uncle, if it were only to enable you to get at the truth of
this business, grant my request. You will come as the examining judge,
since matters do not seem to you very clear. Deuce take it! It is as
necessary to cross-question the Marquise as it is to examine the
Marquis."

"You are right," said the lawyer. "It is quite possible that it is she
who is mad. I will go."

"I will call for you. Write down in your engagement book: 'To-morrow
evening at nine, Madame d'Espard.'--Good!" said Bianchon, seeing his