"What, monsieur! Can you doubt it after your conversation with
him?"

The baron shook his head. "I've no doubt but what Valorsay is
ruined financially," said he. "I am certain that my hundred
thousand francs will be lost forever if I lend them to him. I
would be willing to swear that he bet against his own horse and
prevented the animal from winning, as he is accused of doing."

"You must see, then--"

"Excuse me--all this does NOT explain the great discrepancy
between your allegations and his story. You assure me that he
cares nothing whatever for Mademoiselle Marguerite; he pretends
that he adores her."

"Yes, monsieur, yes--the scoundrel dared to say so. Ah! if I had
not been deterred by a fear of losing my revenge!"

"I understand; but allow me to conclude. According to you,
Mademoiselle Marguerite possesses several millions. According to
him, she hasn't a penny of her own. Which is right? I believe he
is. His desire to borrow a hundred thousand francs of me proves
it; and, besides, he wouldn't have come this morning to tell me a
falsehood, which would be discovered to-morrow. Still, if he is
telling the truth, it is impossible to explain the foul conspiracy
you have suffered by."

This objection had previously presented itself to Pascal's mind,
and he had found an explanation which seemed to him a plausible