Ah! if she had only some one to give her a hint, she might rise to any
height."

Paul's ideas were in such a wild state of confusion, that he could
make no reply; and, now that he was no longer held in thrall by Rose's
presence, he began to be terrified at what had taken place, for he
imagined that he caught a sinister expression in the old man's face
which made him very suspicious of the wisdom of the course he had been
persuaded to pursue. Was there ever such an unheard-of event as an old
man of such a poverty-stricken appearance showering banknotes upon the
heads of perfect strangers? There was certainly something mysterious
in the affair, and Paul made up his mind that he would do his utmost to
avoid being compromised.

"I have thought the matter over," said he resolutely; "and it is
impossible for me to accept the loan of a sum which it would be
difficult for me to repay."

"My dear young friend, that is not the way to talk. If you do not have a
good opinion of yourself, all the world will judge you according to your
own estimation. Your inexperience has, up to this time, been the sole
cause of your failure. Poverty soon changes a boy into a man as straw
ripens fruit; but the first thing you must do is to put all confidence
in me. You can repay the five hundred francs at your convenience, but I
must have six per cent. for my money and your note of hand."

"But really--," began Paul.

"I am looking at the matter in a purely business light, so we can drop
sentiment."