Charles often thought how easy it would be to buy up a part of
Alphonse's liabilities and let them fall into the hands of a
grasping usurer. But it would be a great injustice to suppose that
Charles for a moment contemplated doing such a thing himself. It
was only an idea he was fond of dwelling upon; he was, as it were,
in love with Alphonse's debts.

But things went slowly, and Charles became pale and sallow while
he watched and waited.

He was longing for the time when the people who had always looked
down upon him should have their eyes opened, and see how little
the brilliant and idolized Alphonse was really fit for. He wanted
to see him humbled, abandoned by his friends, lonely and poor; and
then--!

Beyond that he really did not like to speculate; for at this point
feelings stirred within him which he would not acknowledge.

He WOULD hate his former friend; he WOULD have revenge for all the
coldness and neglect which had been his own lot in life; and every
time the least thought in defence of Alphonse arose in his mind he
pushed it aside, and said, like the old banker, "Sentiment won't
do for a business man."

One day he went to his tailor's; he bought more clothes in these
days than he absolutely needed.

The nimble little man at once ran to meet turn with a roll of