Governors and intendants flourish and fall, but Jean
Pothier dit Robin, the itinerant notary, lives merrily: men may do
without bread, but they will not live without law--at least, in this
noble, litigious New France of ours."
"Your profession seems quite indispensable, then!" remarked
Philibert.
"Indispensable! I should think so! Without proper actes the world
would soon come to an end, as did Adam's happiness in Eden, for want
of a notary."
"A notary, Master Pothier?"
"Yes, your Honor. It is clear that Adam lost his first estate de
usis et fructibus in the Garden of Eden, simply because there was no
notary to draw up for him an indefeasable lease. Why, he had not
even a bail a chaptal (a chattel mortgage) over the beasts he had
himself named!"
"Ah!" replied Philibert, smiling, "I thought Adam lost his estate
through a cunning notary who persuaded his wife to break the lease
he held; and poor Adam lost possession because he could not find a
second notary to defend his title."
"Hum! that might be; but judgment went by default, as I have read.
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