Think of
your situation in connection with your daughter if Madame Grandet
dies. You must render an account to Eugenie, because you enjoy your
wife's estate only during her lifetime. At her death your daughter can
claim a division of property, and she may force you to sell Froidfond.
In short, she is her mother's heir, and you are not."
These words fell like a thunderbolt on the old man, who was not as
wise about law as he was about business. He had never thought of a
legal division of the estate.
"Therefore I advise you to treat her kindly," added Cruchot, in
conclusion.
"But do you know what she has done, Cruchot?"
"What?" asked the notary, curious to hear the truth and find out the
cause of the quarrel.
"She has given away her gold!"
"Well, wasn't it hers?" said the notary.
"They all tell me that!" exclaimed the old man, letting his arms fall
to his sides with a movement that was truly tragic.
"Are you going--for a mere nothing,"--resumed Cruchot, "to put
obstacles in the way of the concessions which you will be obliged to
ask from your daughter as soon as her mother dies?"
"Do you call six thousand francs a mere nothing?"
"Hey! my old friend, do you know what the inventory of your wife's
property will cost, if Eugenie demands the division?"
"How much?"
"Two, three, four thousand francs, perhaps! The property would have to
be put up at auction and sold, to get at its actual value. Instead of
that, if you are on good terms with--"
"By the shears of my father!" cried Grandet, turning pale as he
suddenly sat down, "we will see about it, Cruchot.
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