any display of his knowledge or talent, but merely to
win the cases confided to him; and, unlike many beginners, he evinced
no inclination to shine at his clients' expense. Rare modesty, and it
served him well. His first ten months of practice brought him about
eight thousand francs, absorbed in part by the expense attaching to a
suitable office. The second year his fees increased by about one-half,
and, feeling that his position was now assured, he insisted that his
mother should resign her clerkship. He proved to her what was indeed
the truth--that by superintending his establishment, she would save more
than she made in her present position.

From that time the mother and the son had good reason to believe that
their heroic energy had conquered fate. Clients became so numerous that
Pascal found it necessary to draw nearer the business centre, and
his rent was consequently doubled; but the income he derived from his
profession increased so rapidly that he soon had twelve thousand francs
safely invested as a resource against any emergency. Madame Ferailleur
now laid aside the mourning she had worn since her husband's death. She
felt that she owed it to Pascal; and, besides, after believing there was
no more happiness left for her on earth, her heart rejoiced at her son's
success.

Pascal was thus on the high-road to fame, when a complication in M.
Ferdinand de Coralth's affair, brought that young nobleman to his
office. The trouble arose from a little stock exchange operation
which M. Ferdinand had engaged in--an affair which savored a trifle
of knavery. It was strange, but Pascal rather took a liking to M. de
Coralth. The honest worker felt interested in this dashing adventurer;
he was almost dazzled by his brilliant vices, his wit, his hardihood,
conceit, marvellous assurance, and careless impudence; and he studied
this specimen of the Parisian flora with no little curiosity. M.
de Coralth certainly did not confide the secret of his life and his
resources to Pascal but the latter's intelligence should have told him
to distrust a man who treated the requirements of morality even more
than cavalierly, and who had infinitely more wants than scruples.
However, the young advocate seemed to have no suspicions; they exchanged
visits occasionally, and it was Pascal himself who one day requested the
viscount to take him to one of those "Reunions in High Life" which the
newspapers describe in such glowing terms.

Madame Fe