oulders in luminous
cascades. Never had she appeared to M. Costeclar as lovely as at
this moment, when her whole frame was vibrating with suppressed
indignation, her cheeks flushed, her eyes flashing.

"Please come in, sir," she uttered.

He stepped forward, no longer bowing humbly as formerly, but with
legs outstretched, chest thrown out, with an ill-concealed look of
gratified vanity. "I did not expect the honor of your visit, sir,"
said the young girl.

Passing rapidly his hat and his cane from the right hand into the
left, and then the right hand upon his heart, his eyes raised to
the ceiling, and with all the depth of expression of which he was
capable,

"It is in times of adversity that we know our real friends,
mademoiselle," he uttered. "Those upon whom we thought we could
rely the most, often, at the first reverse, take flight forever!"

She felt a shiver pass over her. Was this an allusion to Marius?

The other, changing his tone, went on,

"It's only last night that I heard of poor Favoral's discomfiture,
at the bourse where I had gone for news. It was the general topic
of conversation. Twelve millions! That's pretty hard. The Mutual
Credit Society might not be able to stand it. From 580, at which
it was selling before the news, it dropped at once to 300. At nine
o'clock, there were no takers at 180. And yet, if there is nothing
beyond what they say, at 180, I am in."

Was he forgetting himself, or pretending to?

"But please excuse me, mademoiselle," he resumed: "that's not what
I came to tell you. I came to ask if you had any news of our poor
Favoral."

"We have none, sir."

"Then it is true: he succeeded in getting away through this window?"

"Yes."

"And he did not tell you where he meant to take refuge?"

Observing M. Costeclar with all her power of penetration, Mlle.
Gilberte fancied she discovered in him something like a certain
surprise mingled with joy.

"Then Favoral must have left without a sou!"

"They accuse him of having carried away millions, sir; but I would
swear that it is not so."

M. Costeclar approved with a nod.

"I am of the same opinion," he declared, "unless--but no, he was not
the man to try such a game. And yet--but again no, he was too
closely watched. Besides, he was carrying a very heavy load, a load
that exhausted all his resources."

Mlle. Gilberte, hoping that she was going to learn something, made
an effort to preserve her indifferenc