This book was on one of the upper shelves.

As the bishop was rather short of stature, he could not reach it.

"Madame Magloire," said he, "fetch me a chair.

My greatness [grandeur] does not reach as far as that shelf." One of his distant relatives, Madame la Comtesse de Lo, rarely allowed an opportunity to escape of enumerating, in his presence, what she designated as "the expectations" of her three sons.

She had numerous relatives, who were very old and near to death, and of whom her sons were the natural heirs.