"You know I only give
on condition, Master Pothier."
"Oh, yes! trust me, Dame Bedard. I have made it a donation entre
vifs, revocable pour cause d'ingratitude, if your future son-in-law,
Antoine la Chance, should fail in his duty to you and to Zoe."
"And he won't do his duty to Zoe, unless he does it to me, Master
Pothier. But are you sure it is strong enough? Will it hold Dame
La Chance by the foot, so that she cannot revoke her gifts although
I may revoke mine?"
"Hold Dame La Chance by the foot? It will hold her as fast as a
snapping-turtle does a frog. In proof of it, see what Ricard says,
page 970; here is the book." Master Pothier opened his tattered
volume, and held it up to the dame. She shook her head.
"Thanks, I have mislaid my glasses. Do you read, please!"
"Most cheerfully, good dame! A notary must have eyes for everybody--
eyes like a cat's, to see in the dark, and power to draw them in
like a turtle, so that he may see nothing that he does not want to
see."
"Oh, bless the eyes of the notary!" Dame Bedard grew impatient.
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