h--in such great horror that he never finished a sentence which he
had begun. The Nabob had an unforeseen way of finishing his which was
sometimes full of surprises. A fine gambler as well, losing games of
_ecarte_ at five thousand francs the fish without flinching. And so
convenient when one wanted to get rid of a picture, always ready to
buy, no matter at what price. To these motives of condescending kindness
there had come to be joined of late a sentiment of pity and indignation
in the face of the tenacity with which the unfortunate man was being
persecuted, the cowardly and merciless war so ably managed, that public
opinion, always credulous and with neck outstretched to see which way
the wind is blowing, was beginning to be seriously influenced. One
must do to Mora the justice of admitting that he was no follower of the
crowd. When he had seen in a corner of the gallery the simple but rather
piteous and discomfited face of the Nabob, he had thought it cowardly to
receive him there, and had sent him up to his private room.

Jenkins and Jansoulet, sufficiently embarrassed by each other's
presence, exchanged a few commonplace words. Their great friendship
had recently cooled, Jansoulet having refused point-blank all further
subsidies to the Bethlehem Society, leaving the business on the
Irishman's hands, who was furious at this defection, and much more
furious still at this moment because he had not been able to open
Felicia's letter before the arrival of the intruder. The Nabob, on his
side, was asking himself whether the doctor was going to be present at
the conversation which he wished to have with the duke on the subject of
the infamous insinuations with which the _Messenger_ was pursuing him;
anxious also to know whether these calumnies might not have produced a
coolness in that sovereign good-will which was so necessary to him at
the moment of the verification of his election. The greeting which he
had received in the gallery had half reassured him on this point; he
was entirely satisfied when the duke entered and came towards him with
outstretched hand:

"Well, my poor Jansoulet, I hope Paris is making you pay dearly enough
for your welcome. What brawling and hate and spite one finds!"

"Ah, M. le Duc, if you knew--"

"I know. I have read it," said the minister, moving closer to the fire.

"I sincerely hope that your excellency does not believe these infamies.
Besides, I have here--I bring the proof."

Wi