requent with him--it was like a
peddler shifting his pack--as though to rid himself of too cruel cares,
and again took up the burden every man carried with him, which bows his
back, more or less, according to his courage or his strength, and went
into de Gery's room, who was already up, standing at his desk sorting
papers.

"First of all, my friend," said Jansoulet, softly shutting the door for
their interview, "answer me frankly. Is it really for the motives given
in your letter that you have resolved to leave me? Is there not, beneath
it all, one of those scandals that I know are being circulated in Paris
against me? I am sure you would be loyal enough to warn me and to give
me the opportunity of--of clearing myself to you."

Paul assured him that he had no other reasons for going, but that those
were surely sufficient, since it was a matter of conscience.

"Then, my boy, listen to me, and I am sure of keeping you. Your letter,
so eloquent of honesty and sincerity, has told me nothing that I have
not been convinced of for three months. Yes, my dear Paul, you were
right. Paris is more complicated than I thought. What I needed, when I
arrived, was an honest and disinterested cicerone to put me on my guard
against people and things. I met only swindlers. Every worthless rascal
in the town has left the mud of his boots on my carpets. I was looking
at them just now--my poor drawing-rooms. They need a fine sweeping out.
And I swear to you they shall have it, by God, and with no light hand!
But I must wait for that until I am a deputy. All these scoundrels are
of use to me for the election, and this election is far too necessary
now for me to risk losing the smallest chance. In a word, this is the
situation: Not only does the Bey mean to keep the money I lent him three
months ago, but he has replied to my summons by a counter action for
eighty millions, the sum out of which he says I cheated his brother. It
is a frightful theft, an audacious libel. My fortune is mine, my own. I
made it by my trade as a merchant. I had Ahmed's favour; he gave me the
opportunity of becoming rich. It is possible I may have put on the screw
a little tightly sometimes. But one must not judge these things from
a European standpoint. Over there, the enormous profits the Levantines
make is an accepted fact--a known thing. It is the ransom those savages
pay for the western comfort we bring them. That wretch Hemerlingue, who
is suggesting all this p