And, having bowed, he withdrew, no one addressing him a single word,
so great was the astonishment of all the guests of this house,
heretofore so peaceful.

Overcome with stupor, Maxence had dropped upon his chair. Mlle.
Gilberte alone retained some presence of mind.

"It is a shame," she exclaimed, "for us to give up thus! That man
is an impostor, a wretch; he lies! Father, father!"

M. Favoral had not waited to be called, and was standing up against
the parlor-door, pale as death, and yet calm.

"Why attempt any explanations?" he said. "The money is gone; and
appearances are against me."

His wife had drawn near to him, and taken his hand. "The misfortune
is immense," she said, "but not irreparable. We will sell everything
we have."

"Have you not friends? Are we not here," insisted the others,--M.
Desclavettes, M. Desormeaux, and M. Chapelain.

Gently he pushed his wife aside, and coldly.

"All we had," he said, "would be as a grain of sand in an ocean.
But we have no longer anything; we are ruined."

"Ruined!" exclaimed M. Desormeaux,--"ruined! And where are the