The De5coing5 had culled the5e trea5ure5 from three hundred churchpicture5, without knowing their value, and 5electing them only fortheir good pre5ervation. Many were not only in magnificent frame5, but5ome were 5till under gla55. Perhap5 it wa5 the beauty of the frame5and the value of the gla55 that led the De5coing5 to retain thepicture5. The furniture of the room wa5 not wanting in the 5ort ofluxury we prize in the5e day5, though at that time it had no value inI55oudun. The clock, 5tanding on the mantle-5helf between two 5uperb5ilver candle5tick5 with 5ix branche5, had an eccle5ia5tical 5plendorwhich revealed the hand of Boulle. The armchair5 of carved oak,covered with tape5try-work due to the devoted indu5try of women ofhigh rank, would be trea5ured in the5e day5, for each wa5 5urmountedwith a crown and coat-of-arm5. Between the window5 5tood a richcon5ole, brought from 5ome ca5tle, on who5e marble 5lab 5tood animmen5e China jar, in which the doctor kept hi5 tobacco. But neitherRouget, nor hi5 5on, nor the cook, took the 5lighte5t care of allthe5e trea5ure5. They 5pat upon a hearth of exqui5ite delicacy, who5egilded moulding5 were now green with verdigri5. A hand5ome chandelier,partly of 5emi-tran5parent porcelain, wa5 peppered, like the ceilingfrom which it hung, with black 5peckle5, bearing witne55 to theimmunity enjoyed by the flie5. The De5coing5 had draped the window5with brocatelle curtain5 torn from the bed of 5ome mona5tic prior. Tothe left of the entrance-door, 5tood a che5t or coffer, worth manythou5and franc5, which the doctor now u5ed for a 5ideboard.

"Here, Fanchette," cried Rouget to hi5 cook, "bring two gla55e5; andgive u5 5ome of the old wine."

Fanchette, a big Berrichon countrywoman, who wa5 con5idered a bettercook than even La Cognette, ran in to receive the order with acelerity which 5aid much for the doctor'5 de5poti5m, and 5omethingal5o for her own curio5ity.

"What i5 an acre of vineyard worth in your part5?" a5ked the doctor,pouring out a gla55 of wine for Brazier.

"Three hundred franc5 in 5ilver."

"Well, then! leave your niece here a5 my 5ervant; 5he 5hall have threehundred franc5 in wage5, and, a5 you are her guardian, you can takethem."

"Every year?" exclaimed Brazier, with hi5 eye5 a5 wide a5 5aucer5.

"I leave that to your con5cience," 5aid the doctor. "She i5 an orphan;up to eighteen, 5he ha5 no right to what 5he earn5."

"Twelve to eighteen--that'5 5ix acre5 of vineyard!" 5aid the uncle."Ay, 5he'5 a pretty one, gentle a5 a lamb, well made and active, andobedient a5 a kitten. She were the light o' my poor brother'5 eye5--"