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concern youyou and your father both。 You know how truly I share your
grief； but to…day you must give your attention to legal details。 If
you do not； every one of you will get into serious difficulties。 I am
only doing my duty as the family lawyer。〃
〃He is right；〃 said Claes。
〃The time expires in two days；〃 resumed Pierquin； 〃and I must begin
the inventory to…morrow； if only to postpone the payment of the
legacy…tax which the public treasurer will come here and demand。
Treasurers have no hearts； they don't trouble themselves about
feelings； they fasten their claws upon us at all seasons。 Therefore
for the next two days my clerk and I will be here from ten till four
with Monsieur Raparlier； the public appraiser。 After we get through
the town property we shall go into the country。 As for the forest of
Waignies； we shall be obliged to hold a consultation about that。 Now
let us turn to another matter。 We must call a family council and
appoint a guardian to protect the interests of the minor children。
Monsieur Conyncks of Bruges is your nearest relative； but he has now
become a Belgian。 You ought；〃 continued Pierquin； addressing
Balthazar； 〃to write to him on this matter； you can then find out if
he has any intention of settling in France； where he has a fine
property。 Perhaps you could persuade him and his daughter to move into
French Flanders。 If he refuses； then I must see about making up the
council with the other near relatives。〃
〃What is the use of an inventory？〃 asked Marguerite。
〃To put on record the value and the claims of the property； its debts
and its assets。 When that is all clearly scheduled； the family
council； acting on behalf of the minors； makes such dispositions as it
sees fit。〃
〃Pierquin；〃 said Claes； rising from the bench； 〃do all that is
necessary to protect the rights of my children； but spare us the
distress of selling the things that belonged to my dear〃 he was
unable to continue； but he spoke with so noble an air and in a tone of
such deep feeling that Marguerite took her father's hand and kissed
it。
〃To…morrow； then；〃 said Pierquin。
〃Come to breakfast；〃 said Claes； then he seemed to gather his
scattered senses together and exclaimed： 〃But in my marriage contract；
which was drawn under the laws of Hainault； I released my wife from
the obligation of making an inventory； in order that she might not be
annoyed by it： it is very probable that I was equally released〃
〃Oh； what happiness！〃 cried Marguerite。 〃It would have been so
distressing to us。〃
〃Well； I will look into your marriage contract to…morrow；〃 said the
notary； rather confused。
〃Then you did not know of this？〃 said Marguerite。
This remark closed the interview； the lawyer was far too much confused
to continue it after the young girl's comment。
〃The devil is in it！〃 he said to himself as he crossed the court…yard。
〃That man's wandering memory comes back to him in the nick of time；
just when he needed it to hinder us from taking precautions against
him！ I have cracked my brains to save the property of those children。
I meant to proceed regularly and come to an understanding with old
Conyncks； and here's the end of it！ I shall lose ground with
Marguerite； for she will certainly ask her father why I wanted an
inventory of the property； which she now sees was not necessary； and
Claes will tell her that notaries have a passion for writing
documents； that we are lawyers above all； above cousins or friends or
relatives； and all such stuff as that。〃
He slammed the street door violently； railing at clients who ruin
themselves by sensitiveness。
Balthazar was right。 No inventory could be made。 Nothing； therefore；
was done to settle the relation of the father to the children in the
matter of property。
CHAPTER XI
Several months went by and brought no change to the House of Claes。
Gabriel； under the wise management of his tutor； Monsieur de Solis；
worked studiously； acquired foreign languages； and prepared to pass
the necessary examinations to enter the Ecole Polytechnique。
Marguerite and Felicie lived in absolute retirement； going in summer
to their father's country place as a measure of economy。 Monsieur
Claes attended to his business affairs； paid his debts by borrowing a
considerable sum of money on his property； and went to see the forest
at Waignies。
About the middle of the year 1817； his grief； slowly abating； left him
a prey to solitude and defenceless under the monotony of the life he
was leading； which heavily oppressed him。 At first he struggled
bravely against the allurements of Science as they gradually beset
him； he forbade himself even to think of Chemistry。 Then he did think
of it。 Still； he would not actively take it up； and only gave his mind
to his researches theoretically。 Such constant study； however； swelled
his passion which soon became exacting。 He asked himself whether he
was really bound not to continue his researches； and remembered that
his wife had refused his oath。 Though he had pledged his word to
himself that he would never pursue the solution of the great Problem；
might he not change that determination at a moment when he foresaw
success？ He was now fifty…nine years old。 At that age a predominant
idea contracts a certain peevish fixedness which is the first stage of
monomania。
Circumstances conspired against his tottering loyalty。 The peace which
Europe now enjoyed encouraged the circulation of discoveries and
scientific ideas acquired during the war by the learned of various
countries； who for nearly twenty years had been unable to hold
communication。 Science was making great strides。 Claes found that the
progress of chemistry had been directed； unknown to chemists
themselves； towards the object of his researches。 Learned men devoted
to the higher sciences thought； as he did； that light； heat；
electricity； galvanism； magnetism were all different effects of the
same cause； and that the difference existing between substances
hitherto considered simple must be produced by varying proportions of
an unknown principle。 The fear that some other chemist might effect
the reduction of metals and discover the constituent principle of
electricity；two achievements which would lead to the solution of the
chemical Absolute；increased what the people of Douai called a mania；
and drove his desires to a paroxysm conceivable to those who devote
themselves to the sciences； or who have ever known the tyranny of
ideas。
Thus it happened that Balthazar was again carried away by a passion
all the more violent because it had lain dormant so long。 Marguerite；
who watched every evidence of her father's state of mind； opened the
long…closed parlor。 By living in it she recalled the painful memories
which her mother's death had caused； and succeeded for a time in re…
awaking her father's grief； and retarding his plunge into the gulf to
the depths of whic