"Then you may have heard of a lawsuit which ties up my property."
"Claimed by the Saluces? Yes, the king was talking of the matter with Chancellor Maupeou, my cousin, the other evening."
"The king talked of my case? In what terms, pray?"
"Alas! he seemed to think that it ought to be the Saluces."
"Good heavens! then we would have to pay twice over a sum which morally was paid. I have not the receipt, I grant, but I can prove payment
morally."
"I think moral proofs are accepted," said Jean gravely.
"The claim of two hundred thousand livres, with interest, now amounting to a capital of over a million, dated 1406. It must have been settled by Guy Gaston IV., Count of Bearn, because on his deathbed, in 1417, he wrote in his will 'Owing no debts,' and so on."
"That settles it," said Jean.
"But your adversaries hold the note?" said the countess, pretending to take an interest in the subject.