“Is monsieur about to sell Gondreville?” asked the bailiff.
“Yes, Michu, yes. You will have a man of powerful influence for your master. He is the friend of the First Consul, and very intimate with all the ministers; he will protect you.”
“Then you were holding the estate for him?”
“I don’t say that,” replied Marion. “At the time I bought it I was looking for a place to put my money, and I invested in national property as the best security. But it doesn’t suit me to keep an estate once belonging to a family in which my father was—”
“—a servant,” said Michu, violently. “But you shall not sell it! I want it; and I can pay for it.”
“You?”
“Yes, I; seriously, in good gold,—eight hundred thousand francs.”
“Eight hundred thousand francs!” exclaimed Marion. “Where did you get them?”
“That’s none of your business,” replied Michu; then, softening his tone, he added in a low voice: “My father-in-law saved the lives of many persons.”
“You are too late, Michu; the sale is made.”
“You must put it off, monsieur!” cried the bailiff, seizing his master by the hand which he held as in a vice. “I am hated, but I choose to be rich and powerful, and I must have Gondreville. Listen to me; I don’t cling to life; sell me that place or I’ll blow your brains out!—”
“But do give me time to get off my bargain with Malin; he’s troublesome to deal with.”
“I’ll give you twenty-four hours. If you say a word about this matter I’ll chop your head off as I would chop a turnip.”
Marion and Malin left the chateau in the course of the night. Marion was frightened; he told Malin of the meeting and begged him to keep an eye on the bailiff. It was impossible for Marion to avoid delivering the property to the man who had been the real purchaser, and Michu did not seem likely to admit any such reason. Moreover, this
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