He could see neither a deer nor a pretty girl without flying in pursuit.

Ah, yes! Many a trick has he played them--talk of your miracles, forsooth!--well, Claudet was his favorite, and Monsieur de Buxieres has told me, over and over again, that he would make him his heir, and I shall be very much astonished if we do not find a will." "Seurrot, my friend," replied the justice, calmly, "you are too experienced not to know that our country folks dread nothing so much as testifying to their last wishes--to make a will, to them, is to put one foot into the grave.

They will not call in the priest or the notary until the very last moment, and very often they delay until it is too late.

Now, as the deceased was at heart a rustic, I fear greatly that he did not carry his intentions into execution." "That would be a pity--for the chateau, the lands, and the entire fortune would go to an heir of whom Monsieur Odouart never had taken account--to one of the younger branch of Buxieres, whom he had never seen, having quarrelled with the family." "A cousin, I believe," said the justice.
"Yes, a Monsieur Julien de Buxieres, who is employed by the Government at Nancy." "In fact, then, and until we receive more ample information, he is, for us, the sole legitimate heir.

Has he been notified ?" "Yes, Monsieur.