Bourse, but never did business with each other. Charles never
worked against Alphonse; he did not wish to ruin him; he wished
Alphonse to ruin himself.

And Alphonse seemed likely enough to meet his friend's wishes in
this respect. It is true that now and then he did a good stroke of
business, but the steady industry he had learned from Charles he
soon forgot. He began to neglect his office, and lost many good
connections.

He had always had a taste for dainty and luxurious living, but his
association with the frugal Charles had hitherto held his
extravagances in check. Now, on the contrary, his life became more
and more dissipated. He made fresh acquaintances on every hand,
and was more than ever the brilliant and popular Monsieur
Alphonse; but Charles kept an eye on his growing debts.

He had Alphonse watched as closely as possible, and, as their
business was of the same kind, could form a pretty good estimate
of the other's earnings. His expenses were even easier to
ascertain, and he soon assured himself of the fact that Alphonse
was beginning to run into debt in several quarters.

He cultivated some acquaintances about whom he otherwise cared
nothing, merely because through them he got an insight into
Alphonse's expensive mode of life and rash prodigality. He sought
the same cafes and restaurants as Alphonse, but at different
times; he even had his clothes made by the same tailor, because
the talkative little man entertained him with complaints that
Monsieur Alphonse never paid his bills.