ucky fellow I know. You see, you thought
yourself very miserable in being arrested. 'Tis the finest thing in the
world, for now you will read _Mon Voisin Raymond_. There are always two
sides to a case.'

'I am content to believe myself very lucky in having such a friend as
you,' said Ferdinand; 'but now as these things are cleared away, let us
talk over affairs. Have you seen Henrietta?'

'Of course, I see her every day.'

'I hope she will not know of my crash until she has married.'

'She will not, unless you tell her.'

'And when do you think she will be married?'

'When you please.'

'_Cher ami! point de moquerie!_'

'By Jove, I am quite serious,' exclaimed the Count. 'I am as certain
that you will marry her as that we are in this damned spunging-house.'

'Nonsense!'

'The very finest sense in the world. If you will not marry her, I will
myself, for I am resolved that good Montfort shall not. It shall never
be said that I interfered without a result. Why, if she were to marry
Montfort now, it would ruin my character. To marry Montfort after all
my trouble: dining with that good Temple, and opening the mind of that
little Grandison, and talking fine things to that good duchess; it would
be a failure.'

'What an odd fellow you are, Mirabel!' 'Of course! Would you have me
like other people and not odd? We will drink _la belle Henriette!_
Fill up! You will be my friend when you are married, eh? _Mon Armine,
excellent garcon!_ How we shall laugh some day; and then this dinner,
this dinner will be the best dinner we ever had!'

'But why do you think there is the slightest hope of Henrietta not
marrying Montfort?'

'Because my knowledge of human nature assures me that a young woman,
very beautiful, very rich, with a very high spirit, and an only
daughter, will never go and marry one man when she is in love with
another, and that other one, my dear fellow, like you. You are more sure
of getting her because she is engaged.'

What a wonderful thing is a knowledge of human nature! thought Ferdinand
to himself. The Count's knowledge of human nature is like my friend the
waiter's experience. One assures me that I am certain to marry a woman
because she is engaged to another person, and the other, that it is
quite clear my debts will be paid because they are so large! The Count
remained with his friend until eleven o'clock, when everybody was locked
up. He invited himself to dine with him to-morrow, and promised