ry thoughtful and splenetic mood, and who said to him very roughly, "I reserve

"it is concerning an important affair, in the first place, and then I

t fe

u not

ha

uke de Lucenay. Are

es

all

this

face of the whole embassy, M. de Lucenay allowed himself to say to me,

ught fo

old blood, hear one's self accused of having a cough? and before a charming woman, too

tain

nds, the day before yesterday, had an interview with those of the du

action

which he allowed himse

shrugged hi

responded my seconds, 'M. de Lucenay still continues to insist that M. Charles Robert has a cough?' 'Yes, gentlemen; but he does not intend it as an attack upon M. Robert's reputation.' 'T

in that which a man holds

different: it is therefore my duty to proclaim that I falsely accused M. Charles Robert of having a cough. Gentlemen, I confess, not only that my loyal adversary has no cough, but I affirm that he is incapable of ever having it.' Then the duke extended his hand to me cordially, saying, 'Are you content? He

ourage well employed.

ur agreement, when I advanced you 350,000 francs, in order that you might finish the purchase of your notariat, it was s

t ne

bert, with hesitat

ha

e; an idea to become a landed p

urself; you

isagreeable to you I should wish, that is to say, I should desire, to withdraw

um

make you an

shoul

you mig

ay t

the echo

t ru

ing; absu

tell m

e there are reports in

out

s; pure scandal, no doubt, like when we speculated on the 'Change together. T

ur money is no lon

prefer to have

a mi

drawer of his b

u going to, m

g me," said the notary, ironically. And opening a little private staircase

the clerk knocked at t

es Ro

M. Ferra

orthy blu

peak to master instantly,

will return directly; I wi

out; she wears a black veil, so t

take a look at h

k left t

owers of the time of Louis XIV.; that will give me a noble appearance. It will not be like my affair with this prude of a Madame d'Harville-fine game! Oh, no; I have not made my expenses, as the stupid old port

ing in his hand some p

be

y thousand francs in Treasury notes. In a few days

tupefied. "Oh! now don

-

nk not

ut

rece

ar

ople who speak to you o

such su

will only be the more solid. But, really, take the

t, no one shall s

are a

rec

s a lady closely veiled, who wishes to speak to you on some very pressing business

go away by the l

the l

o prevent you

he clerk, saying to h

M. Ro

seeing her. No ill-fe

ve as

well!

t the door on

estly dressed, wrapped in a large shawl, her face completely concealed by