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22 THE NOTART8 DAUGHTER.
himself at the bar. They are trying at Marseilles to persuade
him to give up Paris and remain in Provence. He is thinking
of ('ii'jaiiin^ in political li.'e, and I have no fears as to his not
making his way in the world; but it is not the same case with
his brother."
" You are alluding to M. George? "
" Yes."
" He is still very young? "
"Not so young as he looks. He will be twenty-one in a few
days. He was, till the age of seventeen, one of the most prom-
ising boys imaginable full of intelligence, and even, apparently,
very talented."
"
Oh, indeed! then he has not always been
"
"
Deficient in mind, you were going to say. On the contrary,
it is only since a brain fever, followed by a typhoid fever, which
seized him during his preparation for his examination at the
polytechnic school, that he has fallen into a state of mind which
it is difficult to define. As far as health goes he is well and strong
enough now. George is by no means an idiot. He has as much
sense as many a one who gets on creditably in a quiet and ob-
scure position. If he had not once given promise of superior
intellect, his present deficiencies would not strike us so much.
He has lost the power, and even the desire, of exertion; and I
see no prospect of his being able to follow any profession, or of
his doing anything for himself. I feel obliged and his brother
quite agrees with me to think of his future existence, and to
form some plan with rcgird to it."
" And what are your ideas on the subject, M. le Comte? "
"
Well, really, the only thing I can think of, is to find him a
wife, and to let him live quietly in the country either with us,
or in a little home of his own in this neighborhood. He is passion
itcly fond of the country and the seaside that is really the
only taste he seems to have. My wife's health is in a precarious
stale. T am getting old myself, and I feel that it would be a
great relief and comfort to us if our son was married to an amiable
and welt-principled girl, who would supply to him our place,
and who could make herself happy in a quiet existence, and with
a man who would, I am sure, make her a very kind and affectionate
husband."
M. Lescalle was listening ittently to the Count's words, and
busy thoughts were crossing his mind. "What has he in his
thoughts?" he said to himself, and then aloud
"I should think there would be no difficulty in finding a
young lady such as you describe, M. le Comte."
" "
Well! could you suggest any one?
"
I ought to know, first, what would be your stipulation with
regard to this daughter-in-law."
" I should not be very exacting."
" Must she be of noble birth? "
" I do not hold to it. A man gives his own name to his
wife."
" And the title of Baronne? " M. Lescalle observed.
" Of course. It is quite a different case with daughters."
" And as to fortune? "
" As to fortune, I should settle on George and his wife twentyfive
thousand francs a year, and if the girl had thirty thousand
or forty thousand francs of her own, which could be hardly
"
reckoned a dowry
"
I beg your pardon, M. le Comte. In our part of the country,
such a sum is reckoned a very good marriage portion. But
"
as lo the position of her family?
' '
All I should care about would be its respectability not
trades-people, however."
' '
A ml the age of
"
the young lady?
"Oh, anywhere between sixteen and twenty-five.
She ought
to be good-looking pretty, if possible, in order that George
might take a fancy to her."
"Let me think," M. Lescalle said, musing as if he was turn-
ing over in his mind all the young ladies in the neighborhood.
" There is Mdlle. Veslaint, but she is sickly."
" Oh, that would never do."
"
Mdlle. Laurice is pretty enough, but as she has a hundred
"
thousand francs, I scarcely think
"
That she would accept Geor
"
Mdlle. du "
Lac is young and well born, but then
" What then? "
" She is humpbacked."
" He would demur at that.' 1
" What would you say to the postmaster's daughter? "
" That would be too great a mesalliance."
" M. le Cure has a haudsomish niece, but she is forty at the
least."
" Almost double his age I Is there nobody else? "
" Well, M. le Comte, I really cannot think of any one else."
" Oh, I am sure you will, if you try. If 1 could meet with
something really suitable, I should not mind adding to what I
settle on
corbeitte.
George and his wife, ten thousand francs for the
"
The notary reflected for a few instants, and then said,
pingslap-
his forehead, " A thought just occurs to me
" "
What? the Count anxiously asked.
"
There is my own daughter."
"Mdlle. Rose?"
"Yes."
"
I thought she was engaged to a young man of La C'iotal."
" Artemon Richer, you mean? There has been some qu.
of it, but I must say I should prefer the connection with yom
family. There would be, however, a difficulty, even if MI;
thought my daughter a desirable match for your son.'
" I certainly should think so. There would be no obstn>
our side."
"But then, you see, M. le Comte," and M. Lescalle he-i
like a man who has something awkward to bring out.
"
Th