e world," he stammered; "I
apprehended no difficulty whatever--" Then, suddenly clapping his hand
to his forehead, he exclaimed: "But, Monsieur le Marquis, couldn't you
borrow this amount from one of your friends, the Duke de Champdoce or
the Count de Commarin?--that would be a good idea."

M. de Valorsay was anything but unsophisticated, and his natural
shrewdness had been rendered much more acute by the difficulties with
which he had recently been obliged to contend. M. Fortunat's confusion
had not escaped his keen glance; and this last suggestion aroused his
suspicions at once. "What!" he said, slowly, and with an air of evident
distrust. "YOU give me this advice, Master Twenty-per-cent. This is
wonderful! How long is it since your opinions have undergone such a
change?"

"My opinions?"

"Yes. Didn't you say to me during our first interview; 'The thing that
will save you, is that you have never in your whole life borrowed
a louis from a friend. An ordinary creditor only thinks of a large
interest; and if that is paid him he holds his peace. A friend is never
satisfied until everybody knows that he has generously obliged you. It
is far better to apply to a usurer.' I thought all that very sensible,
and I quite agreed with you when you added: 'So, Monsieur le Marquis,
no borrowing of this kind until after your marriage--not on any pretext
whatever. Go without eating rather than do it. Your credit is still
good; but it is being slowly undermined--and the indiscretion of a
friend who chanced to say: "I think Valorsay is hard up," might fire the
train, and then you'd explode.'"

M. Fortunat's embarrassment was really painful to witness. He was not
usually wanting in courage, but the events of the evening had shaken his
confidence and his composure. The hope of gain and the fear of loss had
deprived him of his wonted clearness of mind. Feeling that he had just
committed a terrible blunder, he racked his brain to find some way of
repairing it, and finding none, his confusion increased.

"Did you, or didn't you, use that language?" insisted M. de Valorsay.
"What have you to say in reply?"

"Circumstances----"

"What circumstances?"

"Urgent need--necessity. There is no rule without its exceptions. I did
not imagine you would be so rash. I have advanced you forty thousand
francs in less than five months--it is outrageous. If I were in your
place, I would be more reasonable--I would economize----"

He paused! in fa