pointment in the cabinet d'affaires of his avoue M. Gandrin that gentleman had hitherto not found time to give him a definite opinion as to the case submitted to his judgm

omplicated business. I have given not only my best attention to it, but to your general interest

htily, "that is a fact which

ages at an interest less than you now pay. As for a Company to take the whole trouble off your hands, clear off the mortgages, manage the forests, develop the fisheries, guarantee you an adequate income, and at the end of twenty-one

se circumstances characterized the French noblesse, "be kind enough to restore my papers. I see that you are n

ing. But as to my accepting remuneration where I have rendered no service, I request M. le Marquis to put that out of the question. Considering myself, then, no longer your av

ignity of voice and manner which

plied Alain. "Heaven knows I want a friend, and I will heed wi

sible to social vanities. He would be proud to think he had rendered a service to a Rochebriant. Approach him, either through me, or, far better, at once introduce yourself, and propose to consolidate all your ot

one who has power over my fate, while I have none over his, would scarcely be

proposal on your behalf, without compromising yourself, though I shoul

Louvier has been hitherto the severest and most menacing, the one whom Hebert dreads the most; and should he become sole mortgagee, m

so pass to

mortgagees, who are Bretons and would be loath to

r no doubt had often sorely tasked his endurance. Come, suppose we manage to break the ice eas

d if he returned from Paris unsuccessful in his errand overmastered his pride. He felt as if that self-conquest was a duty he owed to the very tombs o

rite at once to Louvier to ask him

r at the side of his office, and a large portly man strode into the room

the hearth, as a king might take his stand in the ha

nd he will task your powers to get him thoroughly into your net. But I have persuade

ion," said M. Louvier, with a sort of careless rollicking pomposity. "Th

ev

re is something I had forgotten to note. Never min

hed out his legs, and read at his ease, but with a very rapid eye, as a practised

e; the forests come in for that. If a contractor for the yearly sale of the woods

ust run the risk

then I foreclose, seize,-Rochebr

,-and opened wide, to reshut as in a vice, the strong ir

e papers back on the bureau, nodded a royal nod,