"
"It is only too serious!"
"But I had the baron's word."
"Oh! his word!"
"I had his solemn promise."
"It is sometimes impossible to keep one's promises, sir."
The consequences of this disappointment must have been terrible,
for the marquis could not maintain his self-control. Still he
strove valiantly to conceal his emotion. He thought to himself
that if he allowed this man to see what a terrible blow this
really was, he would virtually confess his absolute ruin, and have
to renounce the struggle, and own himself vanquished and lost.
So, summoning all his energy, he mastered his emotion in some
degree, and, instead of appearing desperate, succeeded in looking
only irritated and annoyed. "In short," he resumed, angrily, "you
have brought no money! I counted on a hundred thousand francs this
morning. Nothing! This is kind on the baron's part! But probably
he doesn't understand the embarrassing position in which he places
me."
"Excuse me, Monsieur le Marquis, he understands it so well that,
instead of informing you by a simple note. he sent me to acquaint
you with his sincere regret. When I left him an hour ago, he was
really disconsolate. He was particularly anxious I should tell
you that it was not his fault. He counted upon the payment of two
very large amounts, and both of these have failed him."
The marquis had now recovered a little from the shock, though he
was still very pale.
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