“Yes—a little girl named Dumenil, a stationer’s daughter.”
“I should think so! four or five at least.”
She was quite eager already in her search; she caught at the hope of some added ease dropping from the sky. But Pierre, who was very fond of his mother, who knew her to be somewhat visionary and feared she might be disappointed, a little grieved, a little saddened if the news were bad instead of good, checked her:
“Do not get excited, mother; there is no rich American uncle. For my part, I should sooner fancy that it is about a marriage for Jean.”
Every one was surprised at the suggestion, and Jean was a little ruffled by his brother’s having spoken of it before Mme. Rosémilly.
“And why for me rather than for you? The hypothesis is very disputable. You are the elder; you, therefore, would be the first to be thought of. Besides, I do not wish to marry.”
And the other, much put out, retorted: “Is it necessary that a man should be in love because he does not care to marry yet?”
“Ah, there you are! That ‘yet’ sets it right; you are waiting.”
“Granted that I am waiting, if you will have it so.”
But old Roland, who had been listening and cogitating, suddenly hit upon the most probable solution.
“Bless me! what fools we are to be racking our brains. Maître Lecanu is our very good friend; he knows that Pierre is looking out for a medical partnership and Jean for a lawyer’s office, and he has found something to suit one of you.”
This was so obvious and likely that every one accepted it.
“Dinner is ready,” said the maid. And they all hurried off to their rooms to wash their hands before sitting down to table.
Ten minutes later they were at dinner in the little dining-room on the ground-floor.
At first they were silent; but presently Roland began again in amazement at this lawyer’s visit.
“For after all, why did he not write? Why should he have sent his clerk three times? Why is he coming himself?”
“An immediate decision is required, no doubt; and perhaps there are certain confidential conditions which it does not do to put into writing.”
Still, they were all puzzled, and all four a little annoyed at having invited a stranger, who would be in the way of their discussing and deciding on what should be done.