This half I come to offer to you, and beg of you to accept it." Claudet was astonished, and opened his great, fierce brown eyes with amazement.

The proposal seemed so incredible that he thought he must be dreaming, and mistrusted what he heard.
"What! You offer me half the inheritance ?" faltered he.
"Yes; and I am ready to give you a certified deed of relinquishment as soon as you wish--" Claudet interrupted him with a violent shrug of the shoulders.
"I make but one condition," pursued Julien.
"What is it ?" asked Claudet, still on the defensive.
"That you will continue to live here, with me, as in your father's time." Claudet was nearly overcome by this last suggestion, but a lingering feeling of doubt and a kind of innate pride prevented him from giving way, and arrested the expression of gratitude upon his lips.
"What you propose is very generous, Monsieur," said he, "but you have not thought much about it, and later you might regret it.

If I were to stay here, I should be a restraint upon you--" "On the contrary, you would be rendering me a service, for I feel myself incapable of managing the property," replied Julien, earnestly.

Then, becoming more confidential as his conscience was relieved of its burden, he continued, pleasantly: "You see I am not vain about admitting the fact.

Come, cousin, don't be more proud than I am.