"If I would pay more for the place in proportion!"
"That is not what I was about to say," rejoined Julie, in a dignified tone which cut short all discussion. "I intended to say, and I say now that, if Madame Thierry, your sister-in-law, has the slightest objection to leaving that house, I propose to uphold her right to remain throughout the term of the lease; and that is a condition which the purchaser cannot evade on any pretext."
"That will delay the transaction and make it less advantageous to madame," said Monsieur Antoine, who, was consumed with longing to utter the fascinating title of countess, but could not quite make up his mind to do it.
"I do not say no to that, Monsieur Thierry," replied Julie, with an indifference which the rich man considered a fair artifice.
"However," he began after a pause, "what price does——"
Marcel was about to reply. Julie, who evidently knew nothing about business, paid no heed to him, but answered ingenuously:
"Oh! I know nothing about that. You are well-known to be a shrewd and fair-minded man; you may fix the price yourself."
Regardless of her solicitor's reproachful glance, she continued:
"You cannot believe, Monsieur Thierry, that the purpose of my visit to your garden was to haggle with you over the price of my small property. I know that it will probably be of advantage to you to own it, and you know that I am in straitened circumstances; that is no reason why we should be unreasonable in our demands upon each other; but in justice to myself I must tell you this, that I would not for a million francs consent to distress madame your sister-in-law, because I love and honor her especially. That being understood, you can think it over and let me know your decision; for you owe me a call now, my dear neighbor, and I shall not release you from the debt, whether we come to terms or not."
The countess withdrew, leaving the rich man dazzled by her charms; but, as he did not choose to allow Marcel to see his emotion, he pretended to exult for another reason.