And thus ended his first day.
The next morning, about nine o'clock, he was informed that the justice of the peace, the notary, and the clerk, were waiting for him below.

He hastened down and found the three functionaries busy conferring in a low voice with Manette and Claudet.

The conversation ceased suddenly upon his arrival, and during the embarrassing silence that followed, all eyes were directed toward Julien, who saluted the company and delivered to the justice the documents proving his identity, begging him to proceed without delay to the legal breaking of the seals.

They accordingly began operations, and went through all the house without interruption, accompanied by Claudet, who stood stiff and sullen behind the justice, taking advantage of every little opportunity to testify his dislike and ill-feeling toward the legal heir of Claude de Buxieres.

Toward eleven o'clock, the proceedings came to an end, the papers were signed, and Julien was regularly invested with his rights.