If he had asked for the Grand Turk the valet would not have looked
at him with greater astonishment. His surprise, indeed, seemed so
profound that Pascal feared he had made some mistake and added:
"Doesn't he live here?"

The servant laughed heartily. "This is certainly his house," he
replied, "and strange to say, by some fortunate chance, he's
here."

"I wish to speak with him on business."

The servant called one of his colleagues. "Eh! Florestan--is the
baron receiving?"

"The baroness hasn't forbidden it."

This seemed to satisfy the footman; for, turning to Pascal he
said: "In that case, you can follow me."



II.


The sumptuous interior of the Trigault mansion was on a par with
its external magnificence. Even the entrance bespoke the lavish
millionaire, eager to conquer difficulties, jealous of achieving
the impossible, and never haggling when his fancies were
concerned. The spacious hall, paved with costly mosaics, had been