"Madame," said Popinot, "when M. d'Espard left you, did he not give
you a power of attorney enabling you to manage and control your own
affairs?"

"I do not understand the object of all these questions," said the
Marquise with petulance. "It seems to me that if you would only
consider the state in which I am placed by my husband's insanity, you
ought to be troubling yourself about him, and not about me."

"We are coming to that, madame," said the judge. "Before placing in
your hands, or in any others, the control of M. d'Espard's property,
supposing he were pronounced incapable, the Court must inquire as to
how you have managed your own. If M. d'Espard gave you the power, he
would have shown confidence in you, and the Court would recognize the
fact. Had you any power from him? You might have bought or sold house
property or invested money in business?"

"No, monsieur, the Blamont-Chauvrys are not in the habit of trading,"
said she, extremely nettled in her pride as an aristocrat, and
forgetting the business in hand. "My property is intact, and M.
d'Espard gave me no power to act."

The Chevalier put his hand over his eyes not to betray the vexation he
felt at his sister-in-law's short-sightedness, for she was ruining
herself by her answers. Popinot had gone straight to the mark in spite
of his apparent doublings.

"Madame," said the lawyer, indicating the Chevalier, "this gentleman,
of course, is your near connection? May we speak openly before these
other gentlemen?"