eved in the
eternity of the second empire. He sang the praise of the new
cabinet: he was ready to pour out his blood for Emile Ollivier.
True, some people complained that business was dull and slow; but
those people, he thought, were merely "bears." Business had never
been so brilliant. At no time had prosperity been greater. Capital
was abundant. The institutions of credit were flourishing.
Securities were rising. Everybody's pockets were full to bursting.
And the others listened in astonishment to this inexhaustible
prattle, this "gab," more filled with gold spangles than Dantzig
cordial, with which the commercial travelers of the bourse catch
their customers.

Suddenly:

"But you must excuse me," he said, rushing towards the other end of
the parlor.

Mme. Favoral had just left the room to order tea to be brought in;
and, the seat by Mlle. Gilberte being vacant, M. Costeclar occupied
it promptly.

"He understands his business," growled M. Desormeaux.

"Surely," said M. Desclavettes, "if I had some funds to dispose of
just now."

"I would be most happy to have him for my son-in-law," declared M.
Favoral.

He was doing his best. Somewhat intimidated by Mlle. Gilberte's
first look, he had now fully recovered his wits.

He commenced by sketching his own portrait.

He had just turned thirty, and had experienced the strong and the
weak side of life. He had had "successes," but had tired of them.
Having gauged the emptiness of what is called pleasure, he only
wished now to find a partner for life, whose graces and virtues
would secure his domestic happiness.

He could not help noticing the absent look of the young girl; but
he had, thought he, other means of compelling her attention. And
he went on, saying that he felt himself cast of the metal of which
model husbands are made. His plans were all made in advance. His
wife would be free to do as she pleased. She would have her own
carriage and horses, her box at the Italiens and at the Opera, and
an open account at Worth's and Van Klopen's. As to diamonds, he
would take care of that. He meant that his wife's display of
wealth should be noticed; and even spoken of in the newspapers.

Was this the terms of a bargain that he was offering?

If so, it was so coarsely, that Mlle. Gilberte, ignorant of life as
she was, wondered in what world it might be that he had met with so
many "successes." And, somewhat indignantly:

"Unfortunately," she said,