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about ten thousand francs。 This is what is called 〃putting fire into
the bed straw。〃
Apart from the utility of these documents to other nations who thus
may behold the battery of French law in action； the French legislator
ought to know the lengths to which the abuse of procedure may be
carried； always supposing that the said legislator can find time for
reading。 Surely some sort of regulation might be devised； some way of
forbidding lawyers to carry on a case until the sum in dispute is more
than eaten up in costs？ Is there not something ludicrous in the idea
of submitting a square yard of soil and an estate of thousands of
acres to the same legal formalities？ These bare outlines of the
history of the various stages of procedure should open the eyes of
Frenchmen to the meaning of the words 〃legal formalities； justice； and
costs；〃 little as the immense majority of the nations know about them。
Five thousand pounds' weight of type in the printing office were worth
two thousand francs as old metal； the three presses were valued at six
hundred francs； the rest of the plant would fetch the price of old
iron and firewood。 The household furniture would have brought in a
thousand francs at most。 The whole personal property of Sechard junior
therefore represented the sum of four thousand francs； and Cachan and
Petit…Claud made claims for seven thousand francs in costs already
incurred； to say nothing of expenses to come； for the blossom gave
promise of fine fruits enough； as the reader will shortly see。 Surely
the lawyers of France and Navarre； nay； even of Normandy herself； will
not refuse Petit…Claud his meed of admiration and respect？ Surely；
too； kind hearts will give Marion and Kolb a tear of sympathy？
All through the war Kolb sat on a chair in the doorway； acting as
watch…dog； when David had nothing else for him to do。 It was Kolb who
received all the notifications； and a clerk of Petit…Claud's kept
watch over Kolb。 No sooner were the placards announcing the auction
put up on the premises than Kolb tore them down； he hurried round the
town after the bill…poster； tearing the placards from the walls。
〃Ah； scountrels！〃 he cried； 〃to dorment so goot a man； and they calls
it chustice！〃
Marion made half a franc a day by working half time in a paper mill as
a machine tender； and her wages contributed to the support of the
household。 Mme。 Chardon went back uncomplainingly to her old
occupation； sitting up night after night； and bringing home her wages
at the end of the week。 Poor Mme。 Chardon！ Twice already she had made
a nine days' prayer for those she loved； wondering that God should be
deaf to her petitions； and blind to the light of the candles on His
altar。
On the 2nd of September； a letter came from Lucien； the first since
the letter of the winter； which David had kept from his wife's
knowledgethe announcement of the three bills which bore David's
signature。 This time Lucien wrote to Eve。
〃The third since he left us！〃 she said。 Poor sister； she was afraid to
open the envelope that covered the fatal sheet。
She was feeding the little one when the post came in； they could not
afford a wet…nurse now； and the child was being brought up by hand。
Her state of mind may be imagined； and David's also； when he had been
roused to read the letter； for David had been at work all night； and
only lay down at daybreak。
Lucien to Eve。
〃PARIS； August 29th。
〃MY DEAR SISTER；Two days ago； at five o'clock in the morning；
one of God's noblest creatures breathed her last in my arms； she
was the one woman on earth capable of loving me as you and mother
and David love me； giving me besides that unselfish affection；
something that neither mother nor sister can givethe utmost
bliss of love。 Poor Coralie； after giving up everything for my
sake； may perhaps have died for mefor me； who at this moment
have not the wherewithal to bury her。 She could have solaced my
life； you； and you alone； my dear good angels； can console me for
her death。 God has forgiven her； I think； the innocent girl； for
she died like a Christian。 Oh； this Paris！ Eve； Paris is the glory
and the shame of France。 Many illusions I have lost here already；
and I have others yet to lose； when I begin to beg for the little
money needed before I can lay the body of my angel in consecrated
earth。
〃Your unhappy brother；
〃Lucien。〃
〃P。 S。 I must have given you much trouble by my heedlessness； some
day you will know all； and you will forgive me。 You must be quite
easy now； a worthy merchant； a M。 Camusot； to whom I once caused
cruel pangs； promised to arrange everything； seeing that Coralie
and I were so much distressed。〃
〃The sheet is still moist with his tears；〃 said Eve； looking at the
letter with a heart so full of sympathy that something of the old love
for Lucien shone in her eyes。
〃Poor fellow； he must have suffered cruelly if he has been loved as he
says！〃 exclaimed Eve's husband； happy in his love； and these two
forgot all their own troubles at this cry of a supreme sorrow。 Just at
that moment Marion rushed in。
〃Madame；〃 she panted； 〃here they are！ Here they are！〃
〃Who is here？〃
〃Doublon and his men； bad luck to them！ Kolb will not let them come
in； they have come to sell us up。〃
〃No； no； they are not going to sell you up； never fear；〃 cried a voice
in the next room； and Petit…Claud appeared upon the scene。 〃I have
just lodged notice of appeal。 We ought not to sit down under a
judgment that attaches a stigma of bad faith to us。 I did not think it
worth while to fight the case here。 I let Cachan talk to gain time for
you； I am sure of gaining the day at Poitiers〃
〃But how much will it cost to win the day？〃 asked Mme。 Sechard。
〃Fees if you win； one thousand francs if we lose our case。〃
〃Oh； dear！〃 cried poor Eve； 〃why； the remedy is worse than the
disease！〃
Petit…Claud was not a little confused at this cry of innocence
enlightened by the progress of the flames of litigation。 It struck him
too that Eve was a very beautiful woman。 In the middle of the
discussion old Sechard arrived； summoned by Petit…Claud。 The old man's
presence in the chamber where his little grandson in the cradle lay
smiling at misfortune completed the scene。 The young attorney at once
addressed the newcomer with：
〃You owe me seven hundred francs for the interpleader； Papa Sechard；
but you can charge the amount to your son in addition to the arrears
of rent。〃
The vinedresser felt the sting of the sarcasm conveyed by Petit…
Claud's tone and manner。
〃It would have cost you less to give security for the debt at first；〃
said Eve； leaving the cradle to greet her father…in…law with a kiss。
David； quite overcome by the sight of the crowd outside the house （for
Kolb's resistance to Doublon's men had collected a knot of people）；
could only hold out a hand to his father； he did not say a word。
〃And how； pray； do I come to owe you seven hundred francs？〃 the old
man asked； looking at Petit…Claud。