Is it not solely on
my account that you sacrifice a sum which would be a fortune to
many men? Yes. Very well, then. I am asking myself if it is
right for me to accept such a sacrifice, when it is by no means
certain that I shall ever be able to requite it. Shall I ever
have a hundred thousand francs to repay you?"
"But isn't this money absolutely necessary to enable you to win
Valorsay's confidence?"
"Yes, and if it belonged to me I should not hesitate."
Though the baron had formed a high estimate of Pascal's character,
he was astonished and deeply touched by these scruples, and this
excessive delicacy of feeling. Like most opulent men, he knew few
poor people who wore their poverty with grace and dignity, and who
did not snatch at a twenty-franc piece wherever they chanced to
find it. "Ah, well, my dear Ferailleur," he said, kindly, "don't
trouble yourself on this score. It's not at your request nor
solely on your account that I make this sacrifice."
"Oh!"
"No; I give you my word of honor it isn't. Leaving you quite out
of the question, I should still have lent Valorsay this money; and
if you do not wish to take it to him, I shall send it by some one
else."
After that, Pascal could not demur any further. He took the
baron's proffered hand and pressed it warmly, uttering only this
one word, made more eloquent than any protestations by the fervor
with which it was spoken: "Thanks!"
The baron shrugged his shoulders good-naturedly, like a man who
fails to see that he has done anything at all meritorious, or even
worthy of the slightest acknowledgment.
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