The farmer's family did not know whether the appearance of Paul and his dog was a subject of fear or hope to them; but the way in which the huge animal fawned upon Agathe and her friend gave them some little hope. And Ami, as if he realized that it was his duty to encourage them, ran to the spot where Guillot and his family were a.s.sembled, and gambolled about the mother and children, wagging his tail in such a meaning way that the poor creatures soon ceased to be afraid of him.

Monsieur Jarnouillard, having finished his conference with the auctioneer, shouted:

"We offer for sale this house, with the little enclosure of about fifteen rods that goes with it--the whole for five hundred francs.--Who will give five hundred francs?"

A murmur ran through his audience:

"Five hundred francs for that hovel! why, that's ridiculous! no one will buy it."

"If there was any land with it! but fifteen rods! what does that amount to?"

"Evidently Monsieur Jarnouillard means to keep it himself! but he might have got it for less!"

While the bystanders made these reflections aloud, the auctioneer repeated:

"Five hundred! Come, messieurs, who bids more?"

"Who bids less, you mean!" cried Monsieur Luminot, laughing heartily.

"Ha! ha! that's a great joke, that upset price! I'll give three hundred francs for the house--on condition that it's torn down at once!"

"And I," said Paul, in a loud voice, "I will give two thousand francs--on condition that when the creditor and the costs are paid, whatever remains shall be immediately turned over to this poor family."

A fairy's wand could not have produced a more magical effect than was produced by the words of the owner of the Tower.

"Two thousand francs!"

"Two thousand francs!"

The words were echoed on all sides.

Agathe and Honorine alone did not seem surprised by the action of Ami's master; but, on the other hand, it was plain that they were made very happy by it, and that they shared to the full the joy which the farmer and his family manifested.

Paul walked to the desk and threw upon it two thousand-franc notes, to which Monsieur Jarnouillard made a reverence that nearly caused him to lose his wig altogether.

"To whom have we the honor of selling this house?" inquired the auctioneer; "will you kindly give us your name?"

"It is unnecessary, monsieur, for the house has not changed owners. I bought it simply to restore it to this poor farmer and his unfortunate family, whom this gentleman proposed to drive into the fields to sleep."

The words were no sooner out of his mouth than Guillot's whole family threw themselves at their benefactor's feet, and, unable to find words to express their grat.i.tude, confined themselves to looking up into his face and kissing his hand and the hem of his jacket.

The tableau was touching enough to move every feeling heart. Honorine and Agathe did not try to conceal their tears.

But Madame Droguet's party, sorely vexed at the turn affairs had taken, still tried to sneer at what was taking place.

"Bless my soul! this is superb!" said one.

"It is truly magnificent!"

"This scene was all arranged beforehand, doubtless, with the two ladies--that man's friends. They wanted to produce a great effect."

But these ebullitions of spite found no echo. Even Doctor Antoine exclaimed:

"I don't know whether the gentleman from the Tower intended to produce an effect, but I regard as very n.o.ble what he has just done; it reconciles me to him and his dog."

To add to Madame Droguet's ill humor, her husband persisted in holding the big bellows under her nose, saying:

"No wind! I a.s.sure you, _bobonne_, that it doesn't blow, it won't work at all."

"Hold your tongue, Droguet!" she replied; "I will find a way to make it work, I tell you."

The sale came to an end with the purchase of the house for two thousand francs. The auctioneer soon had the account made up; Monsieur Jarnouillard being paid and the legal costs deducted, he called Guillot, to whom he handed one thousand and fifteen francs, the residue.

The farmer exclaimed aloud in his amazement:

"What! that gentleman lets me keep my house and gives me all this money too! Oh! this is too much! I don't deserve all this!"

"Yes, for you have four children to bring up, and you took your niece into your family too," said Paul. "I know whom I am helping, you see.

Now you can afford to take a few moments' rest, and spare yourself the time to caress your children."

Honorine meanwhile had told Poucette that her aunt could replace in the house all the things that she had bought with the purpose of giving them back to her.

But the peasant, who deemed herself rich now, ran after Madame Dalmont and said:

"You too are very kind to us, madame, but now we're not poor any more, thanks to the kindness of the gentleman from the Tower, so please let us pay back what you gave for all those things."

"No, indeed," said Honorine, "I too wish to have some share in your happiness; and if I had not the power to do as much as monsieur, surely you know that I had the inclination."

Paul was within a few yards of Honorine, and the peasants speedily informed him what that lady had done for them at the sale. Thereupon he turned and bowed very low to her, saying:

"I am fortunate, madame, to have been able to imitate you in something!"

"You have done much more than I, monsieur," Honorine replied, lowering her eyes.

"The merit of a good deed, madame, consists not in its money value, but in the way of doing it."

And, after gazing earnestly for several seconds at the young woman, Paul bowed again to her and Agathe, and walked away, calling his dog, who was loath to leave Agathe and the farmer's family, whom he seemed to look upon as old acquaintances.

Then Honorine took her friend's arm, saying to her in a voice trembling with emotion:

"Let us return home; I am well satisfied with my day's work!"

"And I trust that you will not think ill of Monsieur Paul any more now?"

"Hush! what are you talking about?"

"For my part, I am awfully sorry that Monsieur Edmond did not see all that took place here; I am sure that he would have been pleased with the happiness of that poor family. But we will tell him all about it."

Madame Droguet also left the spot with her party.