A Woodland Queen | Page 5

dominant height, projected their sharp
outlines against the sky; in the distance were rocky steeps, with here
and there a clump of brambles, down which trickled slender rivulets;
still farther, like little islands, half submerged in a sea of foliage, were
pastures of tender green dotted with juniper bushes, almost black in
their density, and fields of rye struggling painfully through the stony
soil--the entire scene presenting a picture of mingled wildness and
cultivation, aridity and luxuriant freshness.
Justice Destourbet, having strong, wiry limbs, ascended cheerily the
steep mountain-path. His tall, spare figure, always in advance of his
companion, was visible through the tender green of the young oaks,
clothed in a brown coat, a black cravat, and a very high hat, which the
justice, who loved correctness in details, thought it his duty to don
whenever called upon to perform his judicial functions. The clerk,
Seurrot, more obese, and of maturer age, protuberant in front, and
somewhat curved in the back, dragged heavily behind, perspiring and
out of breath, trying to keep up with his patron, who, now and then
seized with compassion, would come to a halt and wait for his
subordinate.
"I trust," said Destourbet, after one of these intervals which enabled the
clerk to walk by his side, "I trust we shall find Maitre Arbillot down
there; we shall have need of his services in looking over and filing the
papers of the deceased."
"Yes, Monsieur," answered Seurrot, "the notary will meet us at the
chateau; he went to Praslay to find out from his associates whether
Monsieur de Buxieres had not left a will in his keeping. In my humble
opinion, that is hardly likely; for the deceased had great confidence in
Maitre Arbillot, and it seems strange that he should choose to confide

his testamentary intentions to a rival notary."
"Well," observed the justice, "perhaps when the seals are raised, we
may discover an autograph will in some corner of a drawer."
"It is to be hoped so, Monsieur," replied Seurrot; "I wish it with all my
heart, for the sake of Claudet Sejournant, for he is a good fellow,
although on the sinister bar of the escutcheon, and a right jolly
companion."
"Yes; and a marvellous good shot," interrupted the justice. "I recognize
all that; but even if he had a hundred other good qualities, the grand
chasserot, as they call him here, will be on the wrong side of the hedge
if Monsieur de Buxieres has unfortunately died intestate. In the eye of
the law, as you are doubtless aware, a natural child, who has not been
acknowledged, is looked upon as a stranger."
"Monsieur de Buxieres always treated Claudet as his own son, and
every one knew that he so considered him."
"Possibly, but if the law were to keep count of all such cases, there
would be no end to their labors; especially in all questions of the 'cujus'.
Odouart de Buxieres was a terribly wild fellow, and they say that these
old beech-trees of Vivey forest could tell many a tale of his exploits."
"He, he!" assented the clerk, laughing slyly, and showing his toothless
gums, "there is some truth in that. The deceased had the devil in his
boots. He could see neither a deer nor a pretty girl without flying in
pursuit. Ah, yes! Many a trick has he played them--talk of your
miracles, forsooth!--well, Claudet was his favorite, and Monsieur de
Buxieres has told me, over and over again, that he would make him his
heir, and I shall be very much astonished if we do not find a will."
"Seurrot, my friend," replied the justice, calmly, "you are too
experienced not to know that our country folks dread nothing so much
as testifying to their last wishes--to make a will, to them, is to put one
foot into the grave. They will not call in the priest or the notary until
the very last moment, and very often they delay until it is too late. Now,

as the deceased was at heart a rustic, I fear greatly that he did not carry
his intentions into execution."
"That would be a pity--for the chateau, the lands, and the entire fortune
would go to an heir of whom Monsieur Odouart never had taken
account-- to one of the younger branch of Buxieres, whom he had never
seen, having quarrelled with the family."
"A cousin, I believe," said the justice.
"Yes, a Monsieur Julien de Buxieres, who is employed by the
Government at Nancy."
"In fact, then, and until we receive more ample information, he is, for
us, the sole legitimate heir. Has he been notified?"
"Yes, Monsieur. He has even sent his power of attorney to Monsieur
Arbillot's clerk."
"So much the better," said M. Destourbet, "in that case,