"For the present," said Oliver, "yes. We have been very poor, my mother and I." He paused. The marquis's eyes were resting intently upon him, and he felt that the other waited for further explanation. He had already arranged a story, but now that the time had come to tell it, his courage almost failed. "My uncle," said he at last, "came back from America about a year ago, and found us very poor--my mother and me. He was rich." Again he paused for a moment, and then continued: "He came from Brazil, where he was the owner of a diamond mine." "But this uncle of yours," said the marquis, "where is he now?" "He is dead," said Oliver. "He is in heaven." Oliver's mother heard what he said through all the buzzing of the thoughts in her head. "So, then," thought she to herself, "my brother-in-law is dead, is he?" "And you?" said the marquis. "I?" said Oliver. "I have inherited his fortune. It is all in diamonds." Madame Munier pricked up her ears. She was growing interested. Her Oliver, then, had inherited a fortune. "And your uncle's name--what was it?" said the marquis. "His name?" said Oliver. "His name was Henri, the Chevalier de Monnière-Croix." "The devil!" whispered Oliver's mother to herself. "I did not know that we were so well connected." She was past being surprised at anything now. "De Monnière-Croix?" repeated the marquis. "De Monnière-Croix? The name is not familiar." "Perhaps not," said Oliver. "My uncle was very young--a mere child--when he went to America, and for the twelve months past since his return to France he and I have been living quietly together in Paris, where he was engaged in settling his affairs." The marquis was looking steadily at him. "Is your family of long descent?" said he. "Not very; as I said, my father was very poor; you know, monseigneur, how sadly poor people of good family may be in the country--" He hesitated, and then stopped. "But," said the marquis, presently, "you say your uncle is dead. Had he, then, no other heirs than you? Had he no children?" "No," said Oliver. "And you inherit all--_all_ his wealth?" "All." "It is then considerable?" "It is one of the greatest fortunes in France." "Can you prove that to me?" "I can." "Embrace me, my dear child!"