“The diamonds are not mine,” rejoined Paul. “I gave them to Natalie, so that when you see her wear them you may never more remember the trouble they have caused you.”
Madame Evangelista took Paul’s hand and pressed it cordially, while restraining a sentimental tear.
“Listen, my dear, good children,” said she, looking at Natalie and Paul. “If this is so, I will propose to make a bargain with you. I am obliged to sell my pearl necklace and earrings. Yes, Paul; I will not invest a farthing in an annuity; I do not forget my duties to you. Well, I confess my weakness, but to sell the Discreto seems to me to portend disaster. To part with a diamond known to have belonged to Philip II, to have graced his royal hand—a historical gem which the Duke of Alva played with for ten years on the hilt of his sword—no, it shall never be. Élie Magus valued my necklace and earrings at a hundred odd thousand francs; let us exchange them for the jewels I have handed over to you to cancel my debts to my daughter; you will gain a little, but what do I care; I am not grasping. And then, Paul, out of your savings you can have the pleasure of procuring a diadem or hairpins for Natalie, a diamond at a time. Instead of having one of those fancy sets, trinkets which are in fashion only among second-rate people, your wife will thus have magnificent stones that will give her real pleasure. If something must be sold, is it not better to get rid of these old-fashioned jewels, and keep the really fine things in the family?”
“But you, my dear mother?” said Paul.
“I,” replied Madame Evangelista, “I want nothing now. No, I am going to be your farm-bailiff at Lanstrac. Would it not be sheer folly to go to Paris just when I have to wind up my affairs here? I am going to be avaricious for my grandchildren.”
“Dear mother,” said Paul, much touched, “ought I to accept this exchange without compensation?”
“Dear Heaven! are you not my nearest and dearest? Do you think that I shall find no happiness when I sit by my fire and say to myself, ‘Natalie is gone in splendor tonight to the Duchesse de Berri’s ball. When she sees herself with my diamond at her throat, my earrings in her ears, she will have those little pleasures of self-satisfaction which add so much to a woman’s enjoyment, and make her gay and attractive.’—Nothing crushes a woman so much as the chafing of her vanity. I never saw a badly-dressed woman look amiable and pleasant. Be honest, Paul! we enjoy much more through the one we love than in any pleasure of our own.”
“What on earth was Mathias driving at?” thought Paul. “Well, mother,” said he, in a low voice, “I accept.”
“I am quite overpowered,” said Natalie.
Just now Solonet came in with good news for his client. He had found two speculators of his acquaintance, builders, who were much tempted by the house, as the extent of the grounds afforded good building land.
“They are prepared to pay two hundred and fifty thousand francs,” said he; “but if you are ready to sell, I could bring them up to three hundred thousand. You have two acres of garden.”
“My husband paid two hundred thousand for the whole thing,” said she, “so I agree; but you will not include the furniture or the mirrors.”
“Ah, ha!” said Solonet, with a laugh, “you understand business.”
“Alas! needs must,” said she, with a sigh.
“I hear that a great many persons are coming to your midnight ceremony,” said Solonet, who, finding himself in the way, bowed himself out.
Madame Evangelista went with him as far as the door of the outer drawing-room, and said to him privately:
“I have now property representing two hundred and fifty thousand francs; if I get two hundred thousand francs for myself out of the price of the house, I can command a capital of four hundred and fifty thousand francs. I want to invest it to the best advantage, and I trust to you to do it. I shall most likely remain at Lanstrac.”
The young lawyer kissed his client’s hand with a bow of gratitude, for the widow’s tone led him to believe that this alliance, strengthened by interest, might even go a little further.
“You may depend on me,” said he. “I will find you trade investments, in which you will risk nothing, and make large profits.”
“Well—till tomorrow,” said she; “for you and Monsieur le Marquis de Gyas are going to sign for us.”
“Why, dear mother, do you refuse to come with us to Paris?” asked Paul. “Natalie is as much vexed with me as if I were the cause of your determination.”
“I have thought it well over, my children, and I should be in your way. You would think yourselves obliged to include me as a third in everything you might do, and young people have notions of their own which I might involuntarily oppose. Go to Paris by yourselves.—I do not propose to exercise over the Comtesse de Manerville the mild dominion I held over Natalie. I must leave her entirely to you. There are habits which she and I share, you see, Paul, and which must be broken. My influence must give way to yours. I wish you to be attached to me; believe me, I have your interests at heart more than you think perhaps. Young husbands, sooner or later, are jealous of a wife’s affection for her mother. Perhaps they are right. When you are entirely united, when love has amalgamated your souls into one—then, my dear boy, you will have
