ought to
greatly alleviate one's sufferings."
Madame d'Argeles did not deign to notice this delicate irony. "I
will tell you in advance to what purpose I intend to apply this
sum," she said.
"Ah!"
"I intend one of these two millions to serve as the dowry of a
young girl who would have been the Count de Chalusse's sole
legatee, if his death had not been so sudden and so unexpected."
"And the other one?"
"The other I intend to invest for you in such a way that you can
only touch the interest of it, so that you will not want for bread
after you have squandered your inheritance, even to the very last
penny."
This wise precaution could not fail to shock such a brilliant
young man as M. Wilkie. "Do you take me for a fool?" he
exclaimed. "I may appear very generous, but I am shrewd enough,
never you fear."
"Sign," interrupted Madame d'Argeles, coldly.
But he attempted to prove that he was no fool by reading and
rereading the contract before he would consent to append his name
to it. At last, however, he did so, and stowed away the proofs
which insured him the much-coveted property.
"Now," said Madame d'Argeles, "I have one request to make of you.
Whenever your father makes his appearance and lays claim to this
fortune, I entreat you to avoid a lawsuit, which would only make
your mother's shame and the disgrace attached to the hitherto
stainless name of Chalusse still more widely known.
Pages:
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387