"So," continued M. Laubépin, "seeing that every one was approaching this wedding as if it were a funeral, I searched for some honourable and legal means, not to break the engagement with M. de Bévallan, but to get him to withdraw voluntarily. This proceeding was the more justifiable, as in my absence M. de Bévallan had profited by the inexperience of my excellent friend, Mme. Laroque, and the weakness of my colleague in the neighbouring town, to make the most exorbitant demand in his own interests. Without departing from the wording of the agreements, I succeeded in materially altering their spirit. But there were limits which honour and the engagements already entered into forbade me to pass. And the contract remained favourable enough to be accepted with confidence by any high-minded man who had a sincere affection for his betrothed. Was M. de Bévallan such a man? We had to take that risk. I confess that I was not free from emotion when I began to read the irrevocable document before an imposing audience this morning." "As for me," interrupted Mlle. de Porhoët, "I hadn’t a drop of blood left in my veins. The first part of the contract conceded so much to the enemy that I thought all was lost." "No doubt, mademoiselle; but, as we augurs say among ourselves, ’the sting is in the tail,’ _in cauda venenum_. "It was comical, my friend, to see the faces of M. de Bévallan and my _confrère_ from Rennes, who assisted him, when I suddenly unmasked my batteries. At first they looked at each other in silence; then they whispered together; at last they rose, and, coming to the table where I sat, asked me in a low voice for an explanation. "’Speak up, gentlemen, if you please,’ I said to them. ’We must have no mysteries here. What have you to say?’ "The company began to prick up their ears. Without raising his voice, M. de Bévallan suggested to me that the contract showed mistrust. "’Mistrust, sir!’ I replied, in my most impressive tone. ’What do you intend to convey by that? Do you make that strange imputation against Mme. Laroque, or against me, or against my _confrère_ here present?’ "’S-s-sh! Silence! No wrangling!’ said the Rennes notary discreetly; ’But listen: it was agreed in the first place that the legal system of dotation should not be insisted on.’ "’The legal system? And where do you find that mentioned?’ "’Oh, my dear sir, you know that you have practically reconstituted it by a subterfuge.’ "’Subterfuge, monsieur? Allow me, as your senior, to advise you to withdraw that word from your vocabulary.’ "’But, after all,’ murmured M. de Bévallan, ’I’m tied hand and foot, and treated like a school-boy.’ "’Indeed, sir! What, in your opinion, are we here for at this moment—a contract or a will? You forget that Mme. Laroque is living; that her father is living, and that it is a question of marriage, not of inheritance—at least, not yet.... Really, you must have a little patience; you must wait a little.’