ght, I should have been compelled to borrow them of M. Prosper
Bertomy. And even if I had the money, I should still say 'Impossible.'
Every man has his system--his theory, you know. Mine is, never to run
after my money. With me, whatever I may lose, I regard it as finally
lost; I think no more about it, and turn to something else. So your
forty thousand francs have already been entered on my profit and loss
account. And yet it would be easy enough for you to repay me, if you
would follow my advice and go quietly into bankruptcy."

"Never!" interrupted M. de Valorsay; "never! I do not wish to
temporize," he continued. "I will save all, or save nothing. If you
refuse me your help, I shall apply elsewhere. I will never give my
good friends, who detest me, and whom I cordially hate in return, the
delicious joy of seeing the Marquis de Valorsay fall step by step from
the high position he has occupied. I will never truckle to the men whom
I have eclipsed for fifteen years. No, never! I would rather die, or
even commit the greatest crime!"

He suddenly checked himself, a trifle astonished, perhaps, by his own
plain-speaking; and, for a moment, he and M. Fortunat looked into each
other's eyes, striving to divine their respective secret thoughts.

The marquis was the first to speak. "And so," said he, in a tone which
he strove to make persuasive, but which was threatening instead, "it is
settled--your decision is final?"

"Final."

"You will not even condescend to listen to my explanation?"

"It would be a loss of time."

On receiving this cruel reply, M. de Valorsay struck the desk such a
formidable blow with his clenched fist that several bundles of papers
fell to the floor. His anger was not feigned now. "What are you
plotting, then?" he exclaimed; "and what do you intend to do? What is
your object in betraying me? Take care! It is my life that I am going
to defend, and as truly as there is a God in heaven, I shall defend it
well. A man who is determined to blow his brains out if he is defeated,
is a terribly dangerous adversary. Woe to you, if I ever find you
standing between me and the Count de Chalusse's millions!"

Every drop of blood had fled from M. Fortunat's face, still his mien was
composed and dignified. "You do wrong to threaten me," said he. "I don't
fear you in the least. If I were your enemy, I should bring suit against
you for the forty thousand francs you owe me. I should not obtain my
money, of cours