“Whynotsecurethething，“saidBongrand，“whyrunanyrisks？“
“Whenyouarebetweentworisks，“repliedthedoctor，“avoidthemostrisky。“
BongrandcarriedthroughthebusinessofmakingUrsulaofagesopromptlythatthepaperswerereadybythedayshewastwenty。Thatanniversarywasthelastpleasureoftheolddoctorwho，seizedperhapswithapresentimentofhisend，gavealittleball，towhichheinvitedalltheyoungpeopleinthefamiliesofDionis，Cremiere，Minoret，andMassin。Savinien，Bongrand，theabbeandhistwoassistantpriests，theNemoursdoctor，andMesdamesZelieMinoret，Massin，andCremiere，togetherwitholdSchmucke，weretheguestsatagranddinnerwhichprecededtheball。
“IfeelIamgoing，“saidtheoldmantothenotarytowardsthecloseoftheevening。“Ibegyoutocometo-morrowanddrawupmyguardianshipaccountwithUrsula，soasnottocomplicatemypropertyaftermydeath。ThankGod！Ihavenotwithdrawnonepennyfrommyheirs，——Ihavedisposedofnothingbutmyincome。MessieursCremiere，Massin，andMinoretmynephewaremembersofthefamilycouncilappointedforUrsula，andIwishthemtobepresentattherenderingofmyaccount。“
Thesewords，heardbyMassinandquicklypassedfromonetoanotherroundtheball-room，pouredbalmintothemindsofthethreefamilies，whohadlivedinperpetualalternationsofhopeandfear，sometimesthinkingtheywerecertainofwealth，oftenerthattheyweredisinherited。