s the preface. To-morrow you will declare that your affairs
are very much embarrassed, and the day after to-morrow . . . Ah! you are
becoming very avaricious. It is a virtue you used not to possess. Do you
not already regret the money you have given me?"

"Wretched woman!" murmured Noel, fast losing patience.

"Really," continued the lady, "I pity you, oh! so much. Unfortunate
lover! Shall I get up a subscription for you? In your place, I would
appeal to public charity."

Noel could stand it no longer, in spite of his resolution to remain
calm. "You think it a laughing matter?" cried he. "Well! let me tell
you, Juliette, I am ruined, and I have exhausted my last resources! I am
reduced to expedients!"

The eyes of the young woman brightened. She looked at her lover
tenderly. "Oh, if 'twas only true, my big pet!" said she. "If I only
could believe you!"

The advocate was wounded to the heart. "She believes me," thought he;
"and she is glad. She detests me."

He was mistaken. The idea that a man had loved her sufficiently to ruin
himself for her, without allowing even a reproach to escape him, filled
this woman with joy. She felt herself on the point of loving the man,
now poor and humbled, whom she had despised when rich and proud. But the
expression of her eyes suddenly changed, "What a fool I am," cried she,
"I was on the point of believing all that, and of trying to console
you. Don't pretend that you are one of those gentlemen who scatter their
money broadcast. Tell that to somebody else, my friend! All men in our
days calculate like money-lenders. There are only a few fools who ruin
themselves now, some conceited youngsters, and occasionally an amorous
old dotard. Well, you are a very calm, very grave, and very serious
fellow, but above all, a very strong one."

"Not with you, anyhow," murmured Noel.

"Come now, stop that nonsense! You know very well what you are about.
Instead of a heart, you have a great big double zero, just like a
Homburg. When you took a fancy to me, you said to yourself, 'I will
expend so much on passion,' and you have kept your word. It is an
investment, like any other, in which one receives interest in the form
of pleasure. You are capable of all the extravagance in the world, to
the extent of your fixed price of four thousand francs a month! If it
required a franc more you would very soon take back your heart and
your hat, and carry them elsewhere; to one or other of my rivals in t