Norbert was a thoroughly strong, honest youth, and the idea of meanness
and duplicity were most repugnant to his feelings in general; and yet he
listened eagerly to this proposition, for oppression had utterly changed
his nature. The career of dissipation and pleasure proposed so adroitly
by Daumon dazzled his imagination and his eyes began to sparkle.

"Well," asked the Counsellor invidiously, "and, pray, what is there to
prevent you doing all this?"

"Want of funds," returned Norbert, with a deep sigh; "I should want a
great deal, and I have hardly any; if I were to ask my father for any,
he would refuse me, and wonder----"

"Have you no friends who would find you such a sum as you would require
until you came of age?"

"None at all;" and, overwhelmed with the sense of his utter
helplessness, Norbert sank back upon a chair.

After a brief period of reflection, Daumon spoke with apparent
reluctance,--

"No, Marquis, I cannot see you so miserably unhappy without doing my
best to help you. A man is a fool who puts out his hand to interfere
between father and son, but I will find money to lend you what you
want."

"Will you do so, Counsellor?"