“Is that all? Is that all?” cried Mrs. Scott. “The castle, the farms, the forest, all for three millions?”
“But that is nothing,” said Bettina. “That delicious little stream which wanders through the park is alone worth three millions.”
“And you said just now, Monsieur le Cure, that there were several persons who disputed the purchase with us?”
“Yes, Mrs. Scott.”
“And, after the sale, was my name mentioned among these persons?”
“Certainly it was.”
“And when my name was mentioned was there no one there who spoke of me? Yes, yes, your silence is a sufficient answer; they did speak of me. Well, Monsieur le Cure, I am now serious, very serious. I beg you as a favor to tell me what was said.”
“But,” replied the poor Cure, who felt himself upon burning coals, “they spoke of your large fortune.”
“Yes, of course, they would be obliged to speak of that, and no doubt they said that I was very rich, but had not been rich long—that I was a parvenu. Very well, but that is not all; they must have said something else.”
“No, indeed; I have heard nothing else.”