my mental vision. I ran away in
horror.

"With my mind in a whirl, almost unconscious, I was sitting in my
garret, when the door opened, and Rene Cardillac came in. 'For Christ's
sake! what do you want?' I cried. He, paying no heed to this, came up
to me, smiling at me with a calmness and urbanity which increased my
inward horror. He drew forward an old rickety stool, and sat down
beside me; for I was unable to rise from my straw bed, where I had
thrown myself. 'Well, Olivier,' he began, 'how is it with you, my poor
boy? I really was too hasty in turning you out of doors. I miss you at
every turn. Just now I have a job in hand which I shall never be able
to finish without you; won't you come back and work with me? You don't
answer. Yes, I know very well I insulted you. I don't hide from you
that I was angry about your little bit of love-business with my
Madelon; but I have been thinking matters well over, and I see that I
couldn't have a better son-in-law than you, with your abilities, your
skilfulness, diligence, trustworthiness. Come back with me, and see how
soon you and Madelon can make a match of it.'

"His words pierced my heart; I shuddered at his wickedness; I could not
utter a syllable. 'You hesitate,' he said, in an acrid tone, while his
sparkling eyes transfixed me. 'Perhaps you can't come to-day. You have
other things to do. Perhaps you want to go and see Desgrais, or have an
interview with D'Argenson or La Regnie. Take care, my boy, that the
talons which you are thinking of drawing out to clutch others, don't
mangle yourself.' At this my deeply-tried spirit found vent. 'Those,' I
said, 'who are conscious of horrible crimes may dread those names which
you have mentioned, but I do not. I have nothing to do with them.'
'Remember, Olivier,' he resumed, 'that it is an honour to you to work
with me--the most renowned Master of his time, everywhere highly
esteemed for his truth and goodness; any foul calumny would fall back
on the head of its originator. As to Madelon, I must tell you that it
is her alone whom you have to thank for my yielding. She loves you with
a devotion that I should never have given her credit for being capable
of. As soon as you were gone, she fell at my feet, clasped my knees,
and vowed, with a thousand tears, that she could never live without
you. I thought this was mere imagination, for those young things always
think they're going to die of love whenever a young wheyface looks at
them