elasticity, so that he has his sensibilities under his own control; he
disciplines himself till his nerves are like steel springs, which
always bend, but never break; given a sound digestion, and a man in
such training ought to live as long as the cedars of Lebanon, and famous
trees they are.'

"'Then is the Count actually dying?' I asked.

"'That is possible,' said Gobseck; 'the winding up of his estate will be
a juicy bit of business for you.'

"I looked at my man, and said, by way of sounding him:

"'Just explain to me how it is that we, the Count and I, are the only
men in whom you take an interest?'

"'Because you are the only two who have trusted me without finessing,'
he said.

"Although this answer warranted my belief that Gobseck would act fairly
even if the counter-deed were lost, I resolved to go to see the Count. I
pleaded a business engagement, and we separated.

"I went straight to the Rue du Helder, and was shown into a room where
the Countess sat playing with her children. When she heard my name, she
sprang up and came to meet me, then she sat down and pointed without a
word to a chair by the fire. Her face wore the inscrutable mask beneath
which women of the world conceal their most vehement emotions. Trouble
had withered that face already. Nothing of its beauty now remained, save
the marvelous outlines in which its principal charm had lain.

"'It is essential, madame, that I should speak to M. le Comte----"

"'If so, you would be more favored than I am,' she said, interrupting
me. 'M. de Restaud will see no one. He will hardly allow his doctor to
come, and will not be nursed even by me. When people are ill, they have
such strange fancies! They are like children, they do not know what they
want.'

"'Perhaps, like children, they know very well what they want.'

"The Countess reddened. I almost repented a thrust worthy of Gobseck.
So, by way of changing the conversation, I added, 'But M. de Restaud
cannot possibly lie there alone all day, madame.'

"'His oldest boy is with him,' she said.

"It was useless to gaze at the Countess; she did not blush this time,
and it looked to me as if she were resolved more firmly than ever that I
should not penetrate into her secrets.

"'You must understand, madame, that my proceeding is no way indiscreet.
It is strongly to his interest--' I bit my lips, feeling that I had gone
the wrong way to work. The Countess immediately took advantage of my
slip.