for the declared value--the valuation thus made stood at six hundred
thousand francs. Your wife had a right of half for her share.
Everything was sold and bought in by her; she got something out of it
all, and the hospitals got their seventy-five thousand francs. Then,
as the remainder went to the State, since you had made no mention of
your wife in your will, the Emperor restored to your widow by decree
the residue which would have reverted to the Exchequer. So, now, what
can you claim? Three hundred thousand francs, no more, and minus the
costs."

"And you call that justice!" said the Colonel, in dismay.

"Why, certainly--"

"A pretty kind of justice!"

"So it is, my dear Colonel. You see, that what you thought so easy is
not so. Madame Ferraud might even choose to keep the sum given to her
by the Emperor."

"But she was not a widow. The decree is utterly void----"

"I agree with you. But every case can get a hearing. Listen to me. I
think that under these circumstances a compromise would be both for
her and for you the best solution of the question. You will gain by it
a more considerable sum than you can prove a right to."

"That would be to sell my wife!"

"With twenty-four thousand francs a year you could find a woman who,