But
personally, I always find the poor extremely ungrateful, and God
certainly does not bless ME whenever I encourage them in their
habits of idleness and vice! However, that is not a question for
discussion at present. The immediate point is this--your father made
his will about eighteen months ago, leaving everything to you. The
wording of the will is unusual, but he insisted obstinately on
having it thus set down--"
Here the lawyer drew a paper out of his pocket, fixed a pair of
spectacles on his nose, and studied the document intently--"Yes!--it
reads in this way:--' Everything of which I die possessed to my son,
Cyrillon Vergniaud, born out of wedlock, but as truly my son in the
sight of God, as Ninette Bernadin was his mother, and my wife,
though never so legalised before the world, but fully acknowledged
by me before God, and before the Church which I have served and
disobeyed.' A curious wording!" said Petitot, nodding his head a
great many times--"Very curious! I told him so--but he would have it
his own way,--moreover, I am instructed to publish his will in any
Paris paper that will give it a place. Now this clause is to my mind
exceedingly disagreeable, and I wish I could set it aside.
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