Minorethadaforeheadofthisdescription，furrowedwithwrinkles，whichrecoveredinhisoldageasortofartlesscandorfromthemannerinwhichthesilveryhair，brushedbacklikethatofawomanwhenmakinghertoilet，curledinlightflakesupontheblacknessofhiscoat。Hepersistedindressing，asinhisyouth，inblacksilkstockings，shoeswithgoldbuckles，breechesofblackpoult-de-soie，andablackcoat，adornedwiththeredrosette。Thishead，sofirmlycharacterized，thecoldwhitenessofwhichwassoftenedbytheyellowingtonesofoldage，happenedtobe，justthen，inthefulllightofawindow。AsMadameMinoretcameinsightofhimthedoctor’sblueeyeswiththeirreddenedlidswereraisedtoheaven；anewconvictionhadgiventhemanewexpression。Hisspectacleslayinhisprayer-bookandmarkedtheplacewherehehadceasedtopray。Thetallandspareoldman，hisarmscrossedonhisbreast，stooderectinanattitudewhichbespokethefullstrengthofhisfacultiesandtheunshakableassuranceofhisfaith。Hegazedatthealtarhumblywithalookofrenewedhope，andtooknonoticeofhisnephew’swife，whoplantedherselfalmostinfrontofhimasiftoreproachhimforcomingbacktoGod。
Zelie，seeingalleyesturneduponher，madehastetoleavethechurchandreturnedtothesquarelesshurriedlythanshehadleftit。Shehadreckonedonthedoctor’smoney，andpossessionwasbecomingproblematical。Shefoundtheclerkofthecourt，thecollector，andtheirwivesingreaterconsternationthanever。Goupilwastakingpleasureintormentingthem。
“Itisnotinthepublicsquareandbeforethewholetownthatweoughttotalkofouraffairs，“saidZelie；“comehomewithme。Youtoo，MonsieurDionis，“sheaddedtothenotary；“you’llnotbeintheway。“
ThustheprobabledisinheritanceofMassin，Cremiere，andthepostmasterwasthenewsoftheday。
Justastheheirsandthenotarywerecrossingthesquaretogototheposthousethenoiseofthediligencerattlinguptotheoffice，whichwasonlyafewstepsfromthechurch，atthetopoftheGrand’Rue，madeitsusualracket。