the close of which I now am, and who have tried to oppose me,
you are the only one who has ever pleased me."

La Palferine colored, so flattered was he by this avowal made with
gracious good-humor by the leader of Parisian adventurers. This action
of his own vanity was however a recognition of inferiority which wounded
him; but Maxime divined that unpleasant reaction, easy to foresee in so
clever a mind, and he applied a balm instantly by putting himself at the
discretion of the young man.

"Will you do something for me that will facilitate my retreat from the
Olympic circus by a fine marriage? I will do as much for you."

"You make me very proud; it realizes the fable of the Rat and the Lion,"
said La Palferine.

"I shall begin by lending you twenty thousand francs," continued Maxime.

"Twenty thousand francs! I knew very well that by dint of walking up and
down this boulevard--" said La Palferine, in the style of a parenthesis.

"My dear fellow, you must put yourself on a certain footing," said
Maxime, laughing. "Don't go on your own two feet, have six; do as I do,
I never get out of my tilbury."

"But you must be going to ask me for something beyond my powers."

"No, it is only to make a woman love you within a fortnight."

"Is it a lorette?"

"Why?"

"Because that's impossible; but if it concerns a woman, and a well-bred
one who is also clever--"

"She is a very illustrious marquise."

"You want her letters?" said the young count.

"Ah! you are after my own heart!" cried Maxime. "No, that's not it."

"Then you want me to love her?"

"Yes, in the real sense--"

"If I am to abandon the aesthetic, it is utterly impossible," said La
Palferine. "I have, don't you see, as to women a certain honor; we may
play the fool with them, but not--"

"Ah! I was not mistaken!" cried Maxime. "Do you think I'm a man to
propose mere twopenny infamies to you? No, you must go, and dazzle, and
conquer. My good mate, I give you twenty thousand francs, and ten days
in which to triumph. Meet me to-night at Madame Schontz'."

"I dine there."

"Very good," returned Maxime. "Later, when you have need of me, Monsieur
le comte, you will find me," he added in the tone of a king who binds
himself, but promises nothing.

"This poor woman must have done you some deadly harm," said La
Palferine.

"Don't try to throw a plummet-line into my waters, my boy; and let me
tell you that in case of success you will obtain such power