cases presented by the social eccentricities of some criminal
prosecutions. Now, you had no children by your marriage; M. le Comte
Ferraud has two. The judges might pronounce against the marriage where
the family ties are weakest, to the confirmation of that where they
are stronger, since it was contracted in perfect good faith. Would you
be in a very becoming moral position if you insisted, at your age, and
in your present circumstances, in resuming your rights over a woman
who no longer loves you? You will have both your wife and her husband
against you, two important persons who might influence the Bench.
Thus, there are many elements which would prolong the case; you will
have time to grow old in the bitterest regrets."

"And my fortune?"

"Do you suppose you had a fine fortune?"

"Had I not thirty thousand francs a year?"

"My dear Colonel, in 1799 you made a will before your marriage,
leaving one-quarter of your property to hospitals."

"That is true."

"Well, when you were reported dead, it was necessary to make a
valuation, and have a sale, to give this quarter away. Your wife was
not particular about honesty as to the poor. The valuation, in which
she no doubt took care not to include the ready money or jewelry, or
too much of the plate, and in which the furniture would be estimated
at two-thirds of its actual cost, either to benefit her, or to lighten
the succession duty, and also because a valuer can be held responsible