d this excessive
delicacy of feeling. Like most opulent men, he knew few poor people who
wore their poverty with grace and dignity, and who did not snatch at a
twenty-franc piece wherever they chanced to find it. "Ah, well, my dear
Ferailleur," he said, kindly, "don't trouble yourself on this score.
It's not at your request nor solely on your account that I make this
sacrifice."

"Oh!"

"No; I give you my word of honor it isn't. Leaving you quite out of the
question, I should still have lent Valorsay this money; and if you do
not wish to take it to him, I shall send it by some one else."

After that, Pascal could not demur any further. He took the baron's
proffered hand and pressed it warmly, uttering only this one word, made
more eloquent than any protestations by the fervor with which it was
spoken: "Thanks!"

The baron shrugged his shoulders good-naturedly, like a man who fails to
see that he has done anything at all meritorious, or even worthy of the
slightest acknowledgment. "And you must understand, my dear sir," he
resumed, "that you can employ this sum as you choose, in advancing your
interests, which are identical with mine. You can give the money to
Valorsay at such a time and under such conditions as will best serve
your plans. Give it to him in an hour or in a month, all at once or in
fifty different instalments, as you please. Only use it like the rope
one ties round a dog's neck before drowning him."

The keenest penetration was concealed beneath the baron's careless
good-nature. Pascal knew this, and feeling that his protector understood
him, he said: "You overpower me with kindness."

"Nonsense!"

"You offer me just what I came to ask for."

"So much the better."

"But you will allow me to explain my intentions?"

"It is quite unnecessary, my dear sir."

"Excuse me; if I follow my present plan, I shall be obliged to ascribe
certain sentiments, words, and even acts, to you, which you might
perhaps disavow, and--"

With a careless toss of the head, accompanied by a disdainful snap of
the fingers, the baron interrupted him. "Set to work, and don't give
yourself the slightest uneasiness about that. You may do whatever you
like, if you only succeed in unmasking this dear marquis, and Coralth,
his worthy acolyte. Show me up in whatever light you choose. Who will
you be in Valorsay's eyes? Why, Maumejan, one of my business agents,
and I can always throw the blame on you." And as if to prove that