ful stock of provisions in her arms. Her
eyes had a strange radiance in them, which Paul, however, did not
notice, as he was engaged in watching the old man, who, after carefully
inspecting the document, secured it in one of the pockets of his ragged
coat.

"You will, of course, understand, sir," remarked Paul, "that there is
not much chance of my being able to save sufficient to meet this bill in
four months, so that the date is a mere form."

A smile of benevolence passed over Daddy Tantaine's features. "And
suppose," said he, "that I, the lender, was to put the borrower in a
position to repay the advance before a month had passed?"

"Ah! but that is not possible."

"I do not say, my young friend, that I could do this myself; but I have
a good friend whose hand reaches a long way. If I had only listened to
his advice when I was younger, you would not have caught me to-day in
the Hotel de Perou. Shall I introduce you to him?"

"Am I a perfect fool, to throw away such a chance?"

"Good! I shall see him this evening, and will mention your name to him.
Call on him at noon to-morrow, and if he takes a fancy to you,--decides
to push you, your future is assured, and you will have no doubts as to
getting on."

He took out a card from his pocket and handed it to Paul, adding, "The
name of my friend is Mascarin."

Meanwhile Rose, with a true Parisian's handiness, had contrived to
restore order from chaos, and had arranged the table, with its one or
two pieces of broken crockery, with scraps of brown paper instead of
plates. A fresh supply of wood crackled bravely on the hearth, and two
candles, one of which was placed in a chipped bottle, and the other in a
tarnished candlestick belonging to the porter of the hotel. In the eyes
of both the young people the spectacle was a truly delightful one, and
Paul's heart swelled with triumph. The business had been satisfactorily
concluded, and all his misgivings were at an end.

"Come, let us gather round the festive board," said he joyously. "This
is breakfast and dinner in one. Rose, be seated; and you, my dear
friend, will surely share with us the repast we owe to you?"

With many protestations of regret, however, Daddy Tantaine pleaded an
important engagement at the other end of Paris. "And," added he, "it is
absolutely necessary that I should see Mascarin this evening, for I must
try my best to make him look on you with a favorable eye."

Rose was very glad when the old