They have just inherited 751,351 francs.
"I was employed by them in an action relating thereto." Yes, my dear uncle, you were employed, according to the formula, "in virtue of these and subsequent engagements," and among the "subsequent engagements" you are kind enough to reckon one between Mademoiselle Berthe Lorinet, spinster, of no occupation, and M.Fabien Mouillard, lawyer.

"Fabien Mouillard, lawyer"-- that I may perhaps endure, but "Fabien Mouillard, son-in-law of Lorinet," never! One pays too dear for these rich wives.

Mademoiselle Berthe is half a foot taller than I, who am moderately tall, and she has breadth in proportion.

Moreover, I have heard that her wit is got in proportion.

I saw her when she was seventeen, in a short frock of staring blue; she was very thin then, and was escorted by a brother, squeezed inside a schoolboy's suit; they were out for their first walk alone, both red-faced, flurried, shuffling along the sidewalks of Bourges.