consented to be an
insignificant looker-on."

"You are not in my position," said the Marquis, half mournfully, half
haughtily, "and you can scarcely judge of it even in imagination."

"I need not much task my imagination; I judge of it by analogy. I was
very much in your position when I entered upon what I venture to call
my career; and it is the curious similarity between us in circumstances,
that made me wish for your friendship when that similarity was made
known to me by Lemercier, who is not less garrulous than the true
Parisian usually is. Permit me to say that, like you, I was reared
in some pride of no inglorious ancestry. I was reared also in the
expectation of great wealth. Those expectations were not realized: my
father had the fault of noble natures,--generosity pushed to imprudence:
he died poor and in debt. You retain the home of your ancestors; I had
to resign mine."

The Marquis had felt deeply interested in this narrative, and as Graham
now paused, took his hand and pressed it. "One of our most eminent
personages said to me about that time, 'Whatever a clever man of your
age determines to do or to be, the odds are twenty to one that he has
only to live on in order to do or to be it.' Don't you think he spoke
truly? I think so."

"I scarcely know what to think," said Rochebriant; "I feel as if you had
given me so rough a shake when I was in the midst of a dull dream, that
I am not yet quite sure whether I am asleep or awake."

Just as he said this, and towards the Paris end of the Champs Elysees,
there was a halt, a sensation among the loungers round them; many of
them uncovered in salute.

A man on the younger side of middle age, somewhat inclined to
corpulence, with a very striking countenance, was riding slowly by.
He returned the salutations he received with the careless dignity of
a Personage accustomed to respect, and then reined in his horse by the
side of a barouche, and exchanged some words with a portly gentleman
who was its sole occupant. The loungers, still halting, seemed to
contemplate this parley--between him on horseback and him in the
carriage--with very eager interest. Some put their hands behind their
ears and pressed forward, as if trying to overhear what was said.

"I wonder," quoth Graham, "whether, with all his cleverness, the Prince
has in any way decided what he means to do or to be."

"The Prince!" said Rochebriant, rousing himself from revery; "what
Prince?"

"Do y