Neither would listen to reason. The duty of the notary was to prepare the process by which they were to be separated.
"Monsieur," he said, "I will arrange the affair for you; but you are acquainted with the laws of France in this respect!"
"I know nothing of the law," replied M. Pierre Lavalles.
"Madame," said the notary, "your wish shall be complied with. But you know what the law says on this head?"
"I never read a law book," sharply ejaculated Madame Pierre Lavalles.
"Then," resumed the notary, "the case is this. You must return to your house, and I will proceed to settle the proceedings with the Judicatory Court at Paris. They are very strict. You must furnish me with all the documents relative to property."
"I have them here," put in the husband, by way of parenthesis.
"And the whole affair including correspondence, preparations of instruments, &c., will be settled in less than three months."
"Three months?"
"Three months. Yes, in less than three months."