rstand--what is it that your friend
wants?"

"Only that I shall not be buried in a bankrupt's grave," the suppliant
answered, with a kind of embittered eagerness of utterance. "That I
shall not see disgraced the honoured name that my father and his father
bequeathed to my care!"

Thorpe's large, composed countenance betrayed a certain perplexity.
"There must be a mistake," he observed. "I don't even know this name of
yours. I never heard it before."

The other's mobile face twisted itself in a grimace of incredulity. He
had a conspicuously wide mouth, and its trick of sidelong extension at
this moment was very unpleasant. "Ah, Herr Je! He never heard it," he
ejaculated, turning nervously to the Marquis. "Would to the good God you
never had!" he told Thorpe, with suppressed excitement.

Lord Chaldon, his own voice shaken a little, interposed with an
explanation. "My friend is the head--the respected head--of the firm of
Fromentin Brothers. I think you have--have dealings with them."

Thorpe, after a furtive instant of bewilderment, opened his mouth.
"Oh! I see," he said. "I know what you mean now. With the French
pronunciation, I didn't recognize the name. I've always heard it called
'Fromen'-tin' here in London. Oh, yes, of course--Fromen'tin Brothers."

His lips shut tight again at this. The listeners had caught no helpful
clue from the tone of his words. They exchanged a glance, and then M.
Fromentin spoke.

"Mr. Thorpe," he began, slowly, with an obvious effort at
self-repression. "It is a very simple story. Our house is an old one.
My father's grandfather organized the finance of the commissariat of
General Bonaparte in Egypt. He created the small beginnings of the
carpet and rug importation from Asia Minor. His son, and in turn his
son, followed him. They became bankers as well as importers. They
helped very greatly to develop the trade of the Levant. They were not
avaricious men, or usurers. It is not in our blood. Your Chairman, Lord
Chaldon, who honours me so highly by calling me his friend--he will
assure you that we have a good name in the East. Our banks have
befriended the people, and never oppressed or injured them. For that
reason--I will say perhaps for that reason--we have never become a very
rich house. It is possible to name bankers who have made large fortunes
out of Egypt. It was different with us. Lord Chaldon will tell you
that of our own free will--my two brothers and I--of our own choice