"Ah, madame,--monsieur!" said Godefroid, addressing both Madame de la
Chanterie and the banker, "I have no longer a family; and I have come
here now to ask some financial advice of my father's business advisers
as to the best method of adapting my means to a new way of life."

Godefroid then succinctly, and in as few words as possible, related
his history, and expressed his desire to change his existence.

"Formerly," he said, "a man in my position would have made himself a
monk; but there are no longer any religious orders."

"Go and live with madame, if she is willing to take you," said
Frederic Mongenod, after exchanging a glance with Madame de la
Chanterie, "and do not sell out your property; leave it in my hands.
Give me the exact amount of your debts; I will agree with your
creditors for payment at certain dates, and you can have for yourself
about a hundred and fifty francs a month. It will thus take two years
to clear you. During those two years, if you take those quiet
lodgings, you will have time to think of a career, especially among
the persons with whom you will live, who are all good counsellors."

Here Louis Mongenod returned, bringing in his hand a hundred notes of
a thousand francs each, which he gave to Madame de la Chanterie.
Godefroid offered his arm to his future hostess, and took her down to
the hackney-coach which was waiting for her.

"I hope I shall see you soon, monsieur," she said in a cordial tone of
voice.

"At what hour shall you be at home, madame?" he asked.