me as evil-intentioned."

Hardly was Monsieur des Grassins allowed to see the figure of a young
man, accompanied by a porter from the coach-office carrying two large
trunks and dragging a carpet-bag after him, than Monsieur Grandet
turned roughly on his wife and said,--

"Madame Grandet, go back to your loto; leave me to speak with
monsieur."

Then he pulled the door quickly to, and the excited players returned
to their seats, but did not continue the game.

"Is it any one belonging to Saumur, Monsieur des Grassins?" asked his
wife.

"No, it is a traveller."

"He must have come from Paris."

"Just so," said the notary, pulling out his watch, which was two
inches thick and looked like a Dutch man-of-war; "it's nine o'clock;
the diligence of the Grand Bureau is never late."

"Is the gentleman young?" inquired the Abbe Cruchot.

"Yes," answered Monsieur des Grassins, "and he has brought luggage
which must weigh nearly three tons."

"Nanon does not come back," said Eugenie.