s for his sudden flight; for there is no such Jesuit as the desire
of your heart. He hurried down at once to tell the news to his sister in
L'Houmeau and to take counsel with her. As he reached Postel's shop, he
bethought himself that if all other means failed, he could borrow enough
to live upon for a year from his father's successor.

"Three francs per day will be abundance for me if I live with Louise,"
he thought; "it is only a thousand francs for a whole year. And in six
months' time I shall have plenty of money."

Then, under seal and promise of secrecy, Eve and her mother heard
Lucien's confidences. Both the women began to cry as they heard of the
ambitious plans; and when he asked the reason of their trouble, they
told him that every penny they possessed had been spent on table-linen,
house-linen, Eve's wedding clothes, and on a host of things that David
had overlooked. They had been so glad to do this, for David had made a
marriage-settlement of ten thousand francs on Eve. Lucien then spoke of
his idea of a loan, and Mme. Chardon undertook to ask M. Postel to lend
them a thousand francs for a twelve-month.

"But, Lucien," said Eve, as a thought clutched at her heart, "you will
not be here at my wedding! Oh! come back, I will put it off for a few
days. Surely she will give you leave to come back in a fortnight, if
only you go with her now? Surely, she would spare you to us for a week,
Lucien, when we brought you up for her? We shall have no luck if you are
not at the wedding.... But will a thousand francs be enough for you?"
she asked, suddenly interrupting herself. "Your coat suits you divinely,
but you have only that one! You have only two fine shirts, the other six
are coarse linen; and three of your white ties are just common muslin,
there are only two lawn cravats, and your pocket-handkerchiefs are not
good ones. Where will you find a sister in Paris who will get up your
linen in one day as you want it? You will want ever so much more. Then
you have just the one pair of new nankeen trousers, last year's trousers
are tight for you; you will be obliged to have clothes made in Paris,
and Paris prices are not like Angouleme prices. You have only two
presentable white waistcoats; I have mended the others already. Come, I
advise you to take two thousand francs."

David came in as she spoke, and apparently heard the last two words, for
he looked at the brother and sister and said nothing.

"Do not keep anythin