on the contrary, it arose simply from the fact that Charles was
the more capable man of the two. And as Alphonse had now to work
on his own account, it was soon clear to any one who observed him
closely, that in spite of his promptitude, his amiability, and his
prepossessing appearance, he was not fitted to be at the head of
an independent business.

And there was one person who DID observe him closely. Charles
followed him step by step with his sharp eyes; every blunder,
every extravagance, every loss--he knew all to a nicety, and he
wondered that Alphonse could keep going so long.

They had as good as grown up together. Their mothers were cousins;
the families had lived near each other in the same street; and in
a city like Paris proximity is as important as relationship in
promoting close intercourse. Moreover, the boys went to the same
school.

Thenceforth, as they grew up to manhood, they were inseparable.
Mutual adaptation overcame the great differences which originally
marked their characters, until at last their idiosyncrasies fitted
into each other like the artfully-carved pieces of wood which
compose the picture-puzzles of our childhood.

The relation between them was really a beautiful one, such as does
not often arise between two young men; for they did not understand
friendship as binding the one to bear everything at the hands of
the other, but seemed rather to vie with each other in mutual
considerateness.