What are five hundred thousand francs
under such circumstances as those? Their situation must be
something like that of several millionaires of my acquaintance,
who are obliged to take their silver to the pawn-broker's while
waiting for their rents to fall due."
This excuse might not be true, but it was certainly a very
plausible one. Had not a recent lawsuit revealed the fact that
certain rich folks, who had an income of more than a hundred
thousand francs a year, had kept a thieving coachman for six
months, simply because, in all that time, they were not able to
raise the eight hundred francs they owed him, and which must be
paid before he was dismissed? M. de Valorsay knew this, but a
terrible disquietude seized him. Had people begun to suspect HIS
embarrassment? Had any rumor of it reached Baron Trigault's ears?
This was what he wished to ascertain. "Let us understand each
other, Monsieur Maumejan," said he; "the baron was unable to
procure this money he had promised me to-day--but when will he let
me have it?"
Pascal opened his eyes in pretended astonishment, and it was with
an air of the utmost simplicity that he replied, "I concluded the
baron would take no further action in the matter. I judged so
from his parting words: 'It consoles me a little,' he said, 'to
think that the Marquis de Valorsay is very rich and very well
known, and that he has a dozen friends who will be delighted to do
him this trifling service.
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