"That was your offer. I won't deny it," said old Sorel, speaking even more slowly; then, with the inspiration of genius something that will astonish only those who do not know the peasants of Franche-Comte he added, looking M. de Renal straight in the eye: "We can do better."

At these words the mayor's face dropped. He recovered and after a weighty conversation, two good hours long, in which not a word was left to chance, the peasant's shrewdness won out over that of a rich man, who had no need of it to live. All the numerous articles that were to regulate Julien's new life had been given final shape; not only was his salary set at four hundred francs, but it was to be paid in advance, on the first of each month.