I was young
(she was now nineteen), ten thousand francs seemed to me to be one
of those fabulous sums which were talked about, but which few men
ever saw in one pile, and fewer still held in their hands."

She tried to slip the money into the count's pocket; but he
prevented it.

"Come, take it back, keep it--"

"What shall I do with it?"

"I don't know, but wouldn't this money bring in more? Couldn't you
speculate on the Bourse, bet at the races, play at Baden, or
something? I've heard of people that are now rich as kings, who
commenced with nothing, and hadn't your talents either. Why don't
you do as they did?"

She spoke excitedly, as a woman does who is anxious to persuade.
He looked at her, astonished to find her so sensitive, so
disinterested.

"You will, won't you?" she insisted, "now, won't you?"

"You are a good girl," said he, charmed with her, "but you must take
this money. I give it to you, don't be worried about anything."

"But you--have you still any money? What have you?"

"I have yet--"

He stopped, searched his pockets, and counted the money in his purse.

"Faith, here's three hundred and forty francs--more than I need.
I must give some napoleons to your servants before I go."

"And what for Heaven's sake will become of you?"

He sat back in his chair, negligently stroked his handsome beard,
and said:

"I am going to blow my brains out."

"Oh!"

Hector thought that she doubted what he said. He took his pistols
out of his pockets, showed them to her, and went on:

"You see these toys? Well, when I leave you, I shall go somewhere
--no matter where--put the muzzle to my temple, thus, press the
trigger--and all will be over!"

She gazed at him, her eyes dilated with terror, pale, breathing
hard and fast. But at the same time, she admired him. She marvelled
at so much courage, at this calm, this careless railing tone. What
superb disdain of life! To exhaust his fortune and then kill
himself, without a cry, a tear, or a regret, seemed to her an act
of heroism unheard of, unexampled. It seemed to her that a new,
unknown, beautiful, radiant man stood before her. She loved him as
she had never loved before!

"No!" she cried, "no! It shall not be!"

And rising suddenly, she rushed to him and seized him by the arm.

"You will not kill yourself, will you? Promise me, swear it to me.
It isn't possible, you would not! I love you--I couldn't bear you
before. Oh, I did not know you, but n