addens me to see you; but do not talk about
money.'

'Here is 500L.; four other fellows at 500L. we can manage it.'

'No more, no more! I beseech you.'

'But you cannot stop here. _Quel drole appartement!_ Before Charley
Doricourt was in Parliament he was always in this sort of houses, but I
got him out somehow or other; I managed it. Once I bought of the fellow
five hundred dozen of champagne.'

'A new way to pay old debts, certainly,' said Ferdinand.

'I tell you--have you dined?'

'I was going to; merely to have something to do.'

'I will stop and dine with you,' said the Count, ringing the bell, 'and
we will talk over affairs. Laugh, my friend; laugh, my Armine: this is
only a scene. This is life. What can we have for dinner, man? I shall
dine here.'

'Gentleman's dinner is ordered, my lord; quite ready,' said the waiter.
'Champagne in ice, my lord?'

'To be sure; everything that is good. _Mon cher_ Armine, we shall have
some fun.'

'Yes, my lord,' said the waiter, running down stairs. 'Dinner for best
drawing-room directly; green-pea-soup, turbot, beefsteak, roast duck and
boiled chicken, everything that is good, champagne in ice; two regular
nobs!'

The dinner soon appeared, and the two friends seated themselves.

'Potage admirable!' said Count Mirabel. 'The best champagne I ever drank
in my life. _Mon brave_, your health. This must be Charley's man, by the
wine. I think we will have him up; he will lend us some money. Finest
turbot I ever ate! I will give you some of the fins. Ah! you are glad to
see me, my Armine, you are glad to see your friend. _Encore_ champagne!
Good Armine, excellent Armine! Keep up your spirits, I will manage these
fellows. You must take some bifteac. The most tender bifteac I ever
tasted! This is a fine dinner. _Encore un verre!_ Man, you may go; don't
wait.'

'By Jove, Mirabel, I never was so glad to see anybody in my life. Now,
you are a friend; I feel quite in spirits.'

'To be sure! always be in spirits. _C'est une betise_ not to be in
spirits. Everything is sure to go well. You will see how I will manage
these fellows, and I will come and dine with you every day until you are
out: you shall not be here eight-and-forty hours. As I go home I will
stop at Mitchell's and get you a novel by Paul de Kock. Have you ever
read Paul de Kock's books?'

'Never,' said Ferdinand.

'What a fortunate man to be arrested! Now you can read Paul de Kock!
By Jove, you are the most l