beneath
that envied luxury that is copied at such great cost! All sorts of
useless needs are created, and production is turned aside from the
strictly necessary. One can no longer express hardship by saying that
people lack bread; what they lack in the majority of cases is the
superfluous, which they are unable to renounce without imagining that
they have gone to the dogs and are in danger of starvation.

At dessert, when the servant was no longer present, Morange, excited by
his good meal, became expansive. Glancing at his wife he winked towards
their guest, saying:

"Come, he's a safe friend; one may tell him everything."

And when Valerie had consented with a smile and a nod, he went on:
"Well, this is the matter, my dear fellow: it is possible that I may
soon leave the works. Oh! it's not decided, but I'm thinking of it. Yes,
I've been thinking of it for some months past; for, when all is said, to
earn five thousand francs a year, after eight years' zeal, and to think
that one will never earn much more, is enough to make one despair of
life."

"It's monstrous," the young woman interrupted: "it is like breaking
one's head intentionally against a wall."

"Well, in such circumstances, my dear friend, the best course is to look
out for something elsewhere, is it not? Do you remember Michaud, whom I
had under my orders at the works some six years ago? A very intelligent
fellow he was. Well, scarcely six years have elapsed since he left us
to go to the Credit National, and what do you think he is now earning
there? Twelve thousand francs--you hear me--twelve thousand francs!"

The last words rang out like a trumpet-call. The Moranges' eyes dilated
with ecstasy. Even the little girl became very red.

"Last March," continued Morange, "I happened to meet Michaud, who told
me all that, and showed himself very amiable. He offered to take me
with him and help me on in my turn. Only there's some risk to run. He
explained to me that I must at first accept three thousand six hundred,
so as to rise gradually to a very big figure. But three thousand six
hundred! How can one live on that in the meantime, especially now that
this flat has increased our expenses?"

At this Valerie broke in impetuously: "'Nothing venture, nothing have!'
That's what I keep on repeating to him. Of course I am in favor of
prudence; I would never let him do anything rash which might compromise
his future. But, at the same time, he can't moulder awa