"As for adoption, that could be contested, and you would, I think, have equity on your side.

The royal courts would never trifle with questions of adoptions; you would get a hearing there.

It is true the doctor is an officer of the Legion of honor, and was formerly surgeon to the ex-emperor; but, nevertheless, he would get the worst of it.

Moreover, you would have due warning in case of adoption--but how about marriage?
Old Minoret is shrewd enough to go to Paris and marry her after a year's domicile, and give her a million by the marriage contract.

The only thing, therefore, that really puts your property in danger is your uncle's marriage with the girl." Here the notary paused.
"There's another danger," said Goupil, with a knowing air,--"that of a will made in favor of a third person, old Bongrand for instance, who will hold the property in trust for Mademoiselle Ursula--" "If you tease your uncle," continued Dionis, cutting short his head-clerk, "if you are not all of you very polite to Ursula, you will drive him into either a marriage or into making that private trust which Goupil speaks of,--though I don't think him capable of that; it is a dangerous thing.