It was then agreed that Maitre Mathias should draw up the contract, Maitre Solonet the guardianship account and release, and that both documents should be signed, as the law requires some days before the celebration of the marriage. After a few polite salutations the notaries withdrew.
“It rains, Mathias; shall I take you home?” said Solonet. “My cabriolet is here.”
“My carriage is here too,” said Paul, manifesting an intention to accompany the old man.
“I won’t rob you of a moment’s pleasure,” said Mathias. “I accept my friend Solonet’s offer.”
“Well,” said Achilles to Nestor, as the cabriolet rolled away, “you have been truly patriarchal to-night. The fact is, those young people would certainly have ruined themselves.”
“I felt anxious about their future,” replied Mathias, keeping silent as to the real motives of his proposition.
At this moment the two notaries were like a pair of actors arm in arm behind the stage on which they have played a scene of hatred and provocation.
“But,” said Solonet, thinking of his rights as notary, “isn’t it my place to buy that land you mentioned? The money is part of our dowry.”
“How can you put property bought in the name of Mademoiselle Evangelista into the creation of an entail by the Comte de Manerville?” replied Mathias.
“We shall have to ask the chancellor about that,” said Solonet.