She found them sitting in the drawing-room, with
distorted faces and teeth chattering with fear. With them was a
bearded man who, as soon as she appeared, exclaimed:
"You are Mademoiselle Marguerite, are you not? I arrest you in
the name of the law. There is my warrant." And without more ado
he led her away.
XX.
Money, which nowadays has taken the place of the good fairies of
former times, had gratified M. Wilkie's every longing in a single
night. Without any period of transition, dreamlike as it were, he
had passed from what he called "straitened circumstances" to the
splendid enjoyment of a princely fortune. Madame d'Argeles's
renunciation had been so correctly drawn up, that as soon as he
presented his claims and displayed his credentials he was placed
in possession of the Chalusse estate. It is true that a few
trifling difficulties presented themselves. For instance, the old
justice of the peace who had affixed the seals refused to remove
them from certain articles of furniture, especially from the late
count's escritoire, without an order from the court, and several
days were needed to obtain this. But what did that matter to M.
Wilkie? The house, with its splendid reception-rooms, pictures,
statuary and gardens, was at his disposal, and he installed
himself therein at once. Twenty horses neighed and stamped in his
stables; there were at least a dozen carriages in the coach-house.
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