cloth: "See, here is the very stuff for you. Monsieur Alphonse has
had a whole suit made of it, and Monsieur Alphonse is a gentleman
who knows how to dress."

"I did not think that Monsieur Alphonse was one of your favorite
customers," said Charles, rather taken by surprise.

"Oh, mon Dieu!" exclaimed the little tailor, "you mean because I
have once or twice mentioned that Monsieur Alphonse owed me a few
thousand francs. It was very stupid of me to speak so. Monsieur
Alphonse has not only paid me the trifle he was owing, but I know
that he has also satisfied a number of other creditors. I have
done ce cher beau monsieur great injustice, and I beg you never to
give him a hint of my stupidity."

Charles was no longer listening to the chatter of the garrulous
tailor. He soon left the shop, and went up the street, quite
absorbed in the one thought that Alphonse had paid.

He thought how foolish it really was of him to wait and wait for
the other's ruin. How easily might not the adroit and lucky
Alphonse come across many a brilliant business opening, and make
plenty of money without a word of it reaching Charles's ears.
Perhaps, after all, he was getting on well. Perhaps it would end
in people saying, "See, at last Monsieur Alphonse shows what he is
fit for, now that he is quit of his dull and crabbed partner!"

Charles went slowly up the street with his head bent. Many people
jostled him, but he heeded not. His life seemed to him so
meaningless, as if he had lost all that he had ever possessed--or