The father and son have a million of francs between them;
they will double it with du Croisier's help, for du Croisier
has business connections among great capitalists and
manufacturers in Paris. M. and Mme. Duval the younger
would be certain to give their daughter to a suitor brought
forward by du Croisier, for he is sure to leave two fortunes
to his niece; and, in all probability, he will settle the rever-
sion of his wife's property upon Mile. Duval in the marriage-
contract, for Mme. du Croisier has no kin. You know how
du Croisier hates the d'Esgrignons. Do him a service, be his



THE JEALOUSIES OF A COUNTRY TOWN 273

man, take up this charge of forgery which he is going to make
against young d'Esgrignon, and follow up the proceedings at
once without consulting the public prosecutor at Paris. And,
then, pray Heaven that the Ministry dismisses you for doing
your office impartially, in spite of the powers that be; for if
they do, your fortune is made ! You will have a charming
wife and thirty thousand francs a year with her, to say
nothing of four millions of expectations in ten years' time."

In two evenings Sauvager was talked over. Both he and
the President kept the affair a secret from old Blondet, from
Michu, and from the second member of the staff of prosecut-
ing counsel. Peeling sure of Blondet's impartiality on a
question of fact, the President made certain of a majority
without counting Camusot. And now Camusot's unexpected
defection had thrown everything out. What the President
wanted was a committal for trial before the public prosecutor
got warning. How if Camusot or the second counsel for the
prosecution should send word to Paris?

And here some portion of Camusot's private history may
perhaps explain how it came to pass that Chesnel took it for
granted that the examining magistrate would be on the
d'Esgrignons' side, and how he had the boldness to tamper in
the open street with that representative of justice.
