Nantes, and to sell them at thirty francs!"

Eugenie listened, without knowing that she approached the most solemn

moment of her whole life, and that the notary was about to bring down

upon her head a paternal and supreme sentence. Grandet had now reached

the magnificent fields which he owned on the banks of the Loire, where

thirty workmen were employed in clearing away, filling up, and

levelling the spots formerly occupied by the poplars.

"Maitre Cruchot, see how much ground this tree once took up! Jean," he