de Coralth, exclaimed: "You are most welcome, viscount.
This gentleman is undoubtedly the young friend you spoke of in the
note I received from you this morning?"
"The same; and really he stands greatly in need of your kindness.
He finds himself in an extremely delicate position, and knows no
one who can lend him a helping hand."
"Ah, well, I will lend him one with pleasure, since he is your
friend. But I must know the circumstances before I can act. Sit
down, gentlemen, and enlighten me."
M. Wilkie had prepared his story in advance, a touching and witty
narrative; but when the moment came to begin it, he found himself
unable to speak. He opened his mouth, but no sound issued from
his lips, and it seemed as if he had been stricken dumb.
Accordingly it was M. de Coralth who made a statement of the case,
and he did it well. The narrative thus gained considerably in
clearness and precision; and even M. Wilkie noticed that his
friend understood how to present the events in their most
favorable light, and how to omit them altogether when his
heartless conduct would have appeared too odious. He also
noticed--and he considered it an excellent omen--that M. de
Valorsay was listening with the closest attention.
Worthy marquis! if his own interests had been in jeopardy he could
not have appeared more deeply concerned. When the viscount had
concluded his story, he gravely exclaimed: "Your young friend is
indeed in a most critical position, a position from which he
cannot escape without being terribly victimized, if he's left
dependent on his own resources.
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