"Why, uncle, these five months past we have been in mourning for you."
"In mourning for me? You must be joking!"
"These five months past we have believed you to be dead, and have
received all the documents proving your death!"
"Perhaps these documents informed you that I was buried, then?" he
added, without changing countenance.
"Why, yes, certainly!" I said. "We have also the certificate of your
interment!"
At this my uncle Barbassou could restrain himself no longer, and was
seized with one of those fits of silent laughter which are peculiar to
him.
"In this case--you would be my heir?" he said, in the middle of his
transport of gaiety, which hardly permitted him to speak.
"I am already, my dear uncle," I replied, "and am in possession of all
your property!"
This reply put the finishing touch to his hilarity, and he started off
again into such a fit of laughter that I was caught by it, and so was
François.
But suddenly my uncle stopped, as if some reflection had crossed his
mind, and seizing my hand with a sudden impulse he said: "Ah! but now I think of it, my poor boy, you must have experienced a
severe blow of grief!"
This was said with such frank simplicity, and proceeded so evidently
from a heart guiltless of any dissimulation, that I swear to you I was
stirred to the bottom of my soul; my eyes filled with tears, and I threw
myself on to his neck to thank him.
"Well, well!" he said, patting me on the shoulder to calm me, while he
held me in his arm; "never mind, old fellow, now that I'm back again!"
When breakfast was finished and the table cleared, we remained together
alone.
"Come, uncle, as soon as you have explained to me what has happened to
lead to this story of your death, the next thing will be to take early
steps for your resuscitation."
"Take steps!" he exclaimed, "and for why?"
"Why, to re-establish your civil status and your rights of citizenship
as a live person."
"Oh, they'll find out soon enough, when they see me, that I don't belong
to the other world!" said he, quite calmly.
"Now that you are regarded as defunct, you will not be able to do
anything, to sign, to contract----"
"So, so! Never mind all that. Barbassou-Gratien-Claude-Anatole doesn't
trouble himself about such trifles."