first pair of horses for a pair which
cost sixteen thousand francs.

"Bibi," she said on the latter occasion as she approached me, "surely
you are not angry?"

"No-o-o: I am merely tired," was my reply as I pushed her from me. This
seemed to her so curious that straightway she seated herself by my side.

"You see," she went on, "I decided to spend so much upon these horses
only because I can easily sell them again. They would go at any time
for TWENTY thousand francs."

"Yes, yes. They are splendid horses, and you have got a splendid
turn-out. I am quite content. Let me hear no more of the matter."

"Then you are not angry?"

"No. Why should I be? You are wise to provide yourself with what you
need, for it will all come in handy in the future. Yes, I quite see the
necessity of your establishing yourself on a good basis, for without it
you will never earn your million. My hundred thousand francs I look
upon merely as a beginning--as a mere drop in the bucket."

Blanche, who had by no means expected such declarations from me, but,
rather, an uproar and protests, was rather taken aback.

"Well, well, what a man you are!" she exclaimed. "Mais tu as l'esprit
pour comprendre. Sais-tu, mon garcon, although you are a tutor, you
ought to have been born a prince. Are you not sorry that your money
should be going so quickly?"

"No. The quicker it goes the better."

"Mais--sais-tu-mais dis donc, are you really rich? Mais sais-tu, you
have too much contempt for money. Qu'est-ce que tu feras apres, dis
donc?"

"Apres I shall go to Homburg, and win another hundred thousand francs."

"Oui, oui, c'est ca, c'est magnifique! Ah, I know you will win them,
and bring them to me when you have done so. Dis donc--you will end by
making me love you. Since you are what you are, I mean to love you all
the time, and never to be unfaithful to you. You see, I have not loved
you before parce que je croyais que tu n'es qu'un utchitel (quelque
chose comme un lacquais, n'est-ce pas?) Yet all the time I have been
true to you, parce que je suis bonne fille."

"You lie!" I interrupted. "Did I not see you, the other day, with
Albert--with that black-jowled officer?"

"Oh, oh! Mais tu es--"

"Yes, you are lying right enough. But what makes you suppose that I
should be angry? Rubbish! Il faut que jeunesse se passe. Even if that
officer were here now, I should refrain from putting him out of the
room if I thought you really cared for him. On