NearlyallthecollateralheirsofoldDoctorMinoretwerenowassembledinthesquare；theimportanceoftheeventwhichbroughtthemwassogenerallyfeltthatevengroupsofpeasants，armedwiththeirscarletumbrellasanddressedinthosebrilliantcolorswhichmakethemsopicturesqueonSundaysandfete-days，stoodby，withtheireyesfixedonthefrightenedheirs。Inalllittletownswhicharemidwaybetweenlargevillagesandcitiesthosewhodonotgotomassstandaboutinthesquareormarket-place。Businessistalkedover。InNemoursthehourofchurchservicewasaweeklyexchange，towhichtheownersofpropertyscatteredoveraradiusofsomemilesresorted。
“Well，howwouldyouhavepreventedit？“saidthepostmastertoGoupilinreplytohisremark。
“Ishouldhavemademyselfasimportanttohimastheairhebreathes。
Butfromtheveryfirstyoufailedtogetholdofhim。Theinheritanceofarichuncleshouldbewatchedascarefullyasaprettywoman——forwantofpropercarethey’llbothescapeyou。IfMadameDioniswerehereshecouldtellyouhowtruethatcomparisonis。“
“ButMonsieurBongrandhasjusttoldmethereisnothingtoworryabout，“saidMassin。