it, for he had found himself face to face with one of the most
merciless human beings in existence, and his own character was far from
strong. He had therefore submitted altogether to the rule, well
satisfied with the power he had over her in most other respects, but he
felt that he must not lose it. The Princess was old and was growing
daily more capricious. She had left him a handsome competence in her
will, as much, indeed, as most bachelors would consider a fortune, but
she was not dead yet, and she might change her mind at the last moment.
He trembled to think what his end must be if she should die and leave
him penniless to face the world alone at his age, without a profession
and without real friends. For no one liked him, though some people
feared his tongue, and he knew it. Perhaps Guido would take pity on him
and give him shelter, for Guido was charitable, but the thought was not
pleasant. Never having been hungry since he could remember, Monsieur
Leroy thought starvation would be preferable to eating Guido d'Este's
bread. There was certainly no one else who would throw him a crust, and
though he had received a good deal of money from the Princess, and had
managed to take a good deal more from her, he had never succeeded in
keeping any of it.

It was necessary to form some plan at once for extracting money by means
of Guido's receipts, since the marriage was not to take place, and as
Monsieur Leroy altogether failed to hit upon any satisfactory scheme he
consulted a lawyer in confidence, and asked what could be done to
recover the value. The lawyer was a man of doubtful reputation but of
incontestable skill, and after considering the matter in all its
bearings he gave his client some slight hope of success, proportionate
to the amount of money Guido could raise by the sale of his effects and
by borrowing from his many friends. He was glad to learn that Guido had
never borrowed, except, as Monsieur Leroy explained, from his aunt. A
man in such a position could raise a round sum if suddenly driven to
extremities to save his honour.

The lawyer also asked Monsieur Leroy for details concerning Guido's life
during the last four or five years, inquiring very particularly about
his social relations and as to his having ever been in love with a woman
of his own rank, or with one of inferior station. Monsieur Leroy
answered all these questions with a conscientious desire to speak the
truth, which was new to him, for