p to formalities
which must be painful to a creditor so benevolent. I do not presume
to offer to pay the interest due on the security you can give for the
repayment. If you refused that offer from so old a friend as Lemercier,
of course you could not accept it from me. I make another proposal, to
which you can scarcely object. I do not like to give my scheming rival
on the Bourse the triumph of so profoundly planned a speculation. Aid
me to defeat him. Let me take the mortgage on myself, and become sole
mortgagee--hush!--on this condition,--that there should be an entire
union of interests between us two; that I should be at liberty to make
the improvements I desire, and when the improvements be made, there
should be a fair arrangement as to the proportion of profits due to me
as mortgagee and improver, to you as original owner. Attend, my dear
Marquis,--I am speaking as a mere man of business. I see my way to
adding more than a third, I might even say a half--to the present
revenues of Rochbriant. The woods have been sadly neglected, drainage
alone would add greatly to their produce. Your orchards might be
rendered magnificent supplies to Paris with better cultivation. Lastly,
I would devote to building purposes or to market gardens all the lands
round the two towns of ------ and ---------. I think I can lay my hands
on suitable speculators for these last experiments. In a word, though
the market value of Rochebriant, as it now stands, would not be
equivalent to the debt on it, in five or six years it could be made
worth--well, I will not say how much--but we shall be both well
satisfied with the result. Meanwhile, if you allow me to find purchasers
for your timber, and if you will not suffer the Chevalier de Finisterre
to regulate your expenses, you need have no fear that the interest due
to me will not be regularly paid, even though I shall be compelled, for
the first year or two at least, to ask a higher rate of interest than
Louvier exacted--say a quarter per cent. more; and in suggesting that,
you will comprehend that this is now a matter of business between us,
and not of friendship."

Alain turned his head aside to conceal his emotion, and then, with the
quick affectionate impulse of the genuine French nature, threw himself
on the financier's breast and kissed him on both cheeks.

"You save me! you save the home and the tombs of my ancestors! Thank
you I cannot; but I believe in God--I pray--I will pray for you