Gobseck, returning the
jewel-case to the lady as he spoke.

"'I have too many risks to run.'

"'It would be better to throw yourself at your husband's feet,' I bent
to whisper in her ear.

"The usurer doubtless knew what I was saying from the movement of
my lips. He gave me a cool glance. The Count's face grew livid. The
Countess was visibly wavering. Maxime stepped up to her, and, low as he
spoke, I could catch the words:

"'Adieu, dear Anastasie, may you be happy! As for me, by to-morrow my
troubles will be over.'

"'Sir!' cried the lady, turning to Gobseck. 'I accept your offer.'

"'Come, now,' returned Gobseck. 'You have been a long time in coming to
it, my fair lady.'

"He wrote out a cheque for fifty thousand francs on the Bank of France,
and handed it to the Countess.

"'Now,' continued he with a smile, such a smile as you will see in
portraits of M. Voltaire, 'now I will give you the rest of the amount in
bills, thirty thousand francs' worth of paper as good as bullion. This
gentleman here has just said, "My bills will be met when they are due,"'
added he, producing certain drafts bearing the Count's signature, all
protested the day before at the request of some of the confraternity,
who had probably made them over to him (Gobseck) at a considerably
reduced figure.

"The young man growled out something, in which the words 'Old
scoundrel!' were audible. Daddy Gobseck did not move an eyebrow. He drew
a pair of pistols out of a pigeon-hole, remarking coolly:

"'As the insulted man, I fire first.'

"'Maxime, you owe this gentleman an explanation,' cried the trembling
Countess in a low voice.

"'I had no intention of giving offence,' stammered Maxime.

"'I am quite sure of that,' Gobseck answered calmly; 'you had no
intention of meeting your bills, that was all.'

"The Countess rose, bowed, and vanished, with a great dread gnawing her,
I doubt not. M. de Trailles was bound to follow, but before he went he
managed to say:

"'If either of you gentlemen should forget himself, I will have his
blood, or he will have mine.'

"'Amen!' called Daddy Gobseck as he put his pistols back in their place;
'but a man must have blood in his veins though before he can risk it, my
son, and you have nothing but mud in yours.'

"When the door was closed, and the two vehicles had gone, Gobseck rose
to his feet and began to prance about.

"'I have the diamonds! I have the diamonds!' he cried again and again,
'the