scarcely regained his composure, when the servant opened the
door of an immense apartment as large as a handsome suite of rooms,
and magnificently furnished. Here sat the baron, surrounded by several
clerks, who were busily engaged in putting a pile of papers and
documents in order.

But as soon as Pascal entered, the baron rose, and cordially holding out
his hand, exclaimed, "Ah! here you are at last, Monsieur Maumejan!"

So he had not forgotten the name which Pascal had assumed. This was a
favorable omen. "I called, monsieur----" began the young man.

"Yes--I know--I know!" interrupted the baron. "Come, we must have a
talk."

And, taking Pascal's arm, he led him into his private sanctum, separated
from the large apartment by folding-doors, which had been removed, and
replaced by hangings. Once there he indicated by a gesture that they
could be heard in the adjoining room, and that it was necessary to
speak in a low tone. "You have no doubt come," said he, "for the money
I promised that dear Marquis de Valorsay--I have it all ready for you;
here it is." So saying, he opened an escritoire, and took out a large
roll of bank-notes, which he handed to Pascal. "Here, count it," he
added, "and see if the amount is correct."

But Pascal, whose face had suddenly become as red as fire, did not utter
a word in reply. On receiving this money a new but quite natural thought
had entered his mind for the first time. "What is the matter?" inquired
the baron, surprised by this sudden embarrassment. "What has happened to
you?"

"Nothing, monsieur, nothing! Only I was asking myself--if I ought--if I
can accept this money."

"Bah! and why not?"

"Because if you lend it to M. de Valorsay, it is perhaps lost."

"PERHAPS! You are polite----"

"Yes, monsieur, you are right. I ought to have said that it is sure to
be lost; and hence my embarrassment. Is it not solely on my account
that you sacrifice a sum which would be a fortune to many men? Yes. Very
well, then. I am asking myself if it is right for me to accept such a
sacrifice, when it is by no means certain that I shall ever be able to
requite it. Shall I ever have a hundred thousand francs to repay you?"

"But isn't this money absolutely necessary to enable you to win
Valorsay's confidence?"

"Yes, and if it belonged to me I should not hesitate."

Though the baron had formed a high estimate of Pascal's character, he
was astonished and deeply touched by these scruples, an