"Yes; there are some admirable plans to execute there, if my life is spared." "Poor old man! But have you not lately bought a farm near Val Richer to add to your estate?" "Yes, a very good affair that my notary advised." "Who is this rare and precious notary who advises such good things?" "M. Jacques Ferrand." At this name a slight shade passed over the viscount's brow. "Is he really as honest a man as he is reputed to be?" asked he, carelessly, of D'Harville, who then remembered what Rudolph had related to Clemence concerning the notary. "Jacques Ferrand? what a question; why, he is a man of antique probity!" said Lucenay. "As respected as respectable. Very pious--that hurts no one. Excessively avaricious--which is a guarantee for his clients." "He is, in fine, one of our notaries of the old school, who ask you for whom you take them when you speak of a receipt for money confided to them." "For no other cause than that I would confide my whole fortune to him." "But where the devil, Saint Remy, did you get your doubts concerning this worthy man, of proverbial integrity?" "I am only the echo of vague rumors, otherwise I have no reason to defame this phenix of notaries. But to return to your projects, D'Harville; what are you going to build at Val Richer? The chateau is said to be superb." "You shall be consulted, my dear Saint Remy, and sooner, perhaps, than you think, for I delight in these works; it seems to me there is nothing more pleasant than to have your plans spread out for years to come. To day this project--in a year this one--still later some other: add to this a charming wife whom one adores, is the motive of all your plans, and life passes gently enough." "I believe you; it is a real paradise on earth." "Now," said D'Harville, when breakfast was over, "if you will smoke a cigar in my cabinet, you will find some excellent ones there." They arose from the table and returned to the cabinet of the marquis: the door of his sleeping apartment, which communicated with it, was open. The sole ornament of this room was a panoply of arms. Lucenay, having lighted a cigar, followed the marquis into his chamber. "Here are some splendid guns, truly; faith, I do not know which to prefer, the French or the English." "Douglas," cried Lucenay, "come and see if these guns will not compare with the best Mantons." Lord Douglas, Saint Remy, and the two other guests entered the chamber of the marquis to examine the arms. D'Harville took a pistol, cocked it, and said, laughing, "Here, gentlemen, is the universal panacea for all woes, the spleen, or ennui." He placed the muzzle laughingly to his mouth. "I prefer another specific," said Saint Remy; "this is only good in desperate cases." "Yes, but it is so prompt," said D'Harville. "Click! and it is done; the will is not more rapid. Really! it is marvelous."