--no, as fellow-citizen; and Frenchmen
are so vain, so over-susceptible; fire up at a word; take offence when
none is meant. We two, my dear boy, should be superior to such national
foibles. Bref--I have a mortgage on your lands. Why should that thought
mar our friendship? At my age, though I am not yet old, one is flattered
if the young like us, pleased if we can oblige them, and remove from
their career any little obstacle in its way. Gandrin tells me you wish
to consolidate all the charges on your estate into one on a lower rate
of interest. Is it so?"

"I am so advised," said the Marquis.

"And very rightly advised; come and talk with me about it some day next
week. I hope to have a large sum of money set free in a few days. Of
course, mortgages on land don't pay like speculations at the Bourse; but
I am rich enough to please myself. We will see, we will see."

Here Gandrin returned with the cigars; but Alain at that time never
smoked, and Louvier excused himself, with a laugh and a sly wink, on
the plea that he was going to pay his respects--as doubtless that joli
garcon was going to do likewise--to a belle dame who did not reckon the
smell of tobacco among the perfumes of Houbigant or Arabia.

"Meanwhile," added Louvier, turning to Gandrin, "I have something to say
to you on business about the contract for that new street of mine. No
hurry,--after our young friend has gone to his 'assignation.'"

Alain could not misinterpret the hint; and in a few moments took leave
of his host, more surprised than disappointed that the financier had not
invited him, as Graham had assumed he would, to his soiree the following
evening.

When Alain was gone, Louvier's jovial manner disappeared also, and
became bluffly rude rather than bluntly cordial. "Gandrin, what did
you mean by saying that that young man was no muscadin! Muscadin,
aristocrate, offensive from top to toe."

"You amaze me; you seemed to take to him so cordially."

"And pray, were you too blind to remark with what cold reserve he
responded to my condescensions; how he winced when I called him
Rochebriant; how he coloured when I called him 'dear boy'? These
aristocrats think we ought to thank them on our knees when they take our
money, and" here Louvier's face darkened--"seduce our women." "Monsieur
Louvier, in all France I do not know a greater aristocrat than
yourself."

I don't know whether M. Gandrin meant that speech as a compliment, but
M. Louvier to