eel a thrill of grateful delight at an offer by which his stinted
income was raised to comparative affluence.

"Well, Marquis," said Louvier, "what does the castle say to the town?"

"Monsieur Louvier," answered Alain, extending his hand with cordial
eagerness, "accept my sincere apologies for the indiscretion of my
metaphor. Poverty is proverbially sensitive to jests on it. I owe it to
you if I cannot hereafter make that excuse for any words of mine that
may displease you. The terms you propose are most liberal, and I close
with them at once."

"Bon," said Louvier, shaking vehemently the hand offered to him; "I will
take the paper to Gandrin, and instruct him accordingly. And now, may I
attach a condition to the agreement which is not put down on paper?
It may have surprised you perhaps that I should propose a gratuity of
25,000 francs on completion of the contract. It is a droll thing to
do, and not in the ordinary way of business, therefore I must explain.
Marquis, pardon the liberty I take, but you have inspired me with an
interest in your future. With your birth, connections, and figure you
should push your way in the world far and fast. But you can't do so in
a province. You must find your opening at Paris. I wish you to spend a
year in the capital, and live, not extravagantly, like a nouveau riche,
but in a way not unsuited to your rank, and permitting you all the
social advantages that belong to it. These 25,000 francs, in addition
to your improved income, will enable you to gratify my wish in this
respect. Spend the money in Paris; you will want every sou of it in the
course of the year. It will be money well spent. Take my advice, cher
Marquis. Au plaisir."

The financier bowed himself out. The young Marquis forgot all the
mournful reflections with which Raoul's conversation had inspired him.
He gave a new touch to his toilette, and sallied forth with the air of
a man on whose morning of life a sun heretofore clouded has burst forth
and bathed the landscape in its light.

CHAPTER VIII.

Since the evening spent at the Savarins', Graham had seen no more of
Isaura. He had avoided all chance of seeing her; in fact, the jealousy
with which he had viewed her manner towards Rameau, and the angry
amaze with which he had heard her proclaim her friendship for Madame
de Grantmesnil, served to strengthen the grave and secret reasons which
made him desire to keep his heart yet free and his hand yet unpledged.