.

ZELIE.
The fright of the heirs at beholding their uncle on his way to mass will now be understood.

The dullest persons have mind enough to foresee a danger to self-interests.

Self-interest constitutes the mind of the peasant as well as that of the diplomatist, and on that ground the stupidest of men is sometimes the most powerful.

So the fatal reasoning, "If that little Ursula has influence enough to drag her godfather into the pale of the Church she will certainly have enough to make him leave her his property," was now stamped in letters of fire on the brains of the most obtuse heir.