This latter arrangement was clear and comprehensible; the price of sale and the amounts falling due were both clearly indicated in the deed.

But it was quite different with the bargains made by the owner himself, which were often credited by notes payable at sight, mostly worded in confused terms, unintelligible to any but the original writer.

Julien became completely bewildered among these various documents, the explanations in which were harder to understand than conundrums.

Although greatly averse to following the notary's advice as to seeking Claudet's assistance, he found himself compelled to do so, but was met by such laconic and surly answers that he concluded it would be more dignified on his part to dispense with the services of one who was so badly disposed toward him.

He therefore resolved to have recourse to the debtors themselves, whose names he found, after much difficulty, in the books.