CHAPTERXII
THEFACTSOFAMYSTERIOUSAFFAIR
MichusoldhisfarmatoncetoBeauvisage，afarmeratBellache，buthewasnottoreceivethemoneyfortwentydays。AmonthaftertheMarquisdeChargeboeuf’svisit，Laurence，whohadtoldhercousinsoftheirburiedfortune，proposedtothemtotakethedayoftheMi-caremetodisinterit。TheunusualquantityofsnowwhichfellthatwinterhadhithertopreventedMichufromobtainingthetreasure，anditnowgavehimpleasuretoundertaketheoperationwithhismasters。
Hewasdeterminedtoleavetheneighborhoodassoonasitwasover，forhefearedhimself。
\"MalinhassuddenlyarrivedatGondreville，andnooneknowswhy，\"hesaidtohismistress。\"Ishallneverbeabletoresistputtingthepropertyintothemarketbythedeathofitsowner。IfeelIamguiltyinnotfollowingmyinspirations。\"