"Certainly, M. le marquis," replied the notary.
"Now comes our turn, my boy," whispered the commander to his nephew. "What a pity it is that I haven't a snug little fortune to settle upon you and that dear child in the contract. But alas! all I shall be able to bequeath to you, I'm afraid, is good old Mother Barbançon," added the old officer, half sadly, half smilingly. "A queer wedding present she would be! I did think of selling our six tablespoons so I could make Ernestine a little present, but Mother Barbançon wouldn't listen to it. Your wife would rather have the silver than jewelry, she said."
"And Mother Barbançon was right, uncle. But hush. He is beginning to read our contract now," for the notary, picking up the second contract, said aloud:
"Shall we also skip the names in this contract?"
"Yes, yes; go on," responded the marquis.
"In that case, I come at once to the first and only clause relative to financial matters in this contract."
"It is not likely to be a lengthy one," whispered Commander Bernard.
"Permit me to interrupt you a moment, monsieur," said Olivier, smiling. "This clause of the contract seems entirely superfluous to me, for, as I had the honour to tell you yesterday, I have nothing but my pay, and Mlle. Ernestine Vert-Puis possesses nothing, save her skill as an embroideress."
"True, monsieur," replied the notary, smiling in his turn, "but as one has to be married under some régime or other, I thought it advisable to adopt this one, and state in the contract that you married Mlle. Ernestine Vert-Puis under the community of goods régime, which stipulates that the husband and wife shall hold and enjoy their property in common."
"It would be more correct to say that we married under the community of no-goods régime," responded Olivier, gaily, "but it makes no difference. As it is customary, we accept the clause, do we not, Mlle. Ernestine?"