Though Pierquin belonged to the class of men who regard marriage as the accomplishment of a social duty and the means of transmitting property, and though he was indifferent to which sister he should marry so long as both had the same name and the same dower, he did perceive that the two were, to use his own expression, "romantic and sentimental girls," adjectives employed by commonplace people to ridicule the gifts which Nature sows with grudging hand along the furrows of humanity.The lawyer no doubt said to himself that he had better swim with the stream; and accordingly the next day he came to see Marguerite, and took her mysteriously into the little garden, where he began to talk sentiment,--that being one of the clauses of the primal contract which, according to social usage, must precede the notarial contract.
"Dear cousin," he said, "you and I have not always been of one mind as to the best means of bringing your affairs to a happy conclusion; but you do now, I am sure, admit that I have always been guided by a great desire to be useful to you.Well, yesterday I spoiled my offer by a fatal habit which the legal profession forces upon us--you understand me? My heart did not share in the folly.I have loved you well; but Ihave a certain perspicacity, legal perhaps, which obliges me to see that I do not please you.It is my own fault; another has been more successful than I.Well, I come now to tell you, like an honest man, that I sincerely love your sister Felicie.Treat me therefore as a brother; accept my purse, take what you will from it,--the more you take the better you prove your regard for me.I am wholly at your service--WITHOUT INTEREST, you understand, neither at twelve nor at one quarter per cent.Let me be thought worthy of Felicie, that is all I ask.Forgive my defects; they come from business habits; my heart is good, and I would fling myself into the Scarpe sooner than not make my wife happy.""This is all satisfactory, cousin," answered Marguerite; "but my sister's choice depends upon herself and also on my father's will.""I know that, my dear cousin," said the lawyer, "but you are the mother of the whole family; and I have nothing more at heart than that you should judge me rightly."This conversation paints the mind of the honest notary.Later in life, Pierquin became celebrated by his reply to the commanding officer at Saint-Omer, who had invited him to be present at a military fete; the note ran as follows: "Monsieur Pierquin-Claes de Molina-Nourho, mayor of the city of Douai, chevalier of the Legion of honor, will have THATof being present, etc."
Marguerite accepted the lawyer's offer only so far as it related to his professional services, so that she might not in any degree compromise either her own dignity as a woman, or her sister's future, or her father's authority.
The next day she confided Felicie to the care of Martha and Josette (who vowed themselves body and soul to their young mistress, and seconded all her economies), and started herself for Waignies, where she began operations, which were judiciously overlooked and directed by Pierquin.Devotion was now set down as a good speculation in the mind of that worthy man; his care and trouble were in fact an investment, and he had no wish to be niggardly in making it.First he contrived to save Marguerite the trouble of clearing the land and working the ground intended for the farms.He found three young men, sons of rich farmers, who were anxious to settle themselves in life, and he succeeded, through the prospect he held out to them of the fertility of the land, in making them take leases of the three farms on which the buildings were to be constructed.To gain possession of the farms rent-free for three years the tenants bound themselves to pay ten thousand francs a year the fourth year, twelve thousand the sixth year, and fifteen thousand for the remainder of the term; to drain the land, make the plantations, and purchase the cattle.While the buildings were being put up the farmers were to clear the land.
Four years after Balthazar Claes's departure from his home Marguerite had almost recovered the property of her brothers and sister.Two hundred thousand francs, lent to her by Emmanuel, had sufficed to put up the farm buildings.Neither help nor counsel was withheld from the brave girl, whose conduct excited the admiration of the whole town.