income, I would have him taught a trade."

Paul bit his lip; but he knew the portrait was a true one.

"And now," continued Mascarin, "I have come to your aid, and what do you
say to a situation with a salary of twelve thousand francs?"

This sum was so much greater than Paul had dared to hope, that he
believed Mascarin was amusing himself at his expense.

"It is not kind of you to laugh at me, under the present circumstances,"
remarked he.

Mascarin was not laughing at him; but it was fully half an hour before
he could prove this to Paul.

"You would like more proof of what I say," said he, after a long
conversation. "Very well, then; shall I advance your first month's
salary?" And as he spoke, he took a thousand-franc note from his desk,
and offered it to Paul. The young man rejected the note; but the force
of the argument struck him; and he asked if he was capable of carrying
out the duties which such a salary doubtless demanded.

"Were I not certain of your abilities, I should not offer it to you,"
replied Mascarin. "I am in a hurry now, or I would explain the whole
affair; but I must defer doing so until to-morrow, when please come at
the same hour as you did to-day."

Even in his state of surprise and stupefaction, Paul felt that this was
a signal for him to depart.