"Monsieur Louvier," answered Alain, extending his hand with cordial
eagerness, "accept my sincere apologies for the indiscretion of my
metaphor. Poverty is proverbially sensitive to jests on it. I owe it to
you if I cannot hereafter make that excuse for any words of mine that may
displease you. The terms you propose are most liberal, and I close with
them at once."

"_Bon_," said Louvier, shaking vehemently the hand offered to him; "I
will take the paper to Gandrin, and instruct him accordingly. And now,
may I attach a condition to the agreement which is not put down on
paper? It may have surprised you perhaps that I should propose a
gratuity of 25,000 francs on completion of the contract. It is a droll
thing to do, and not in the ordinary way of business, therefore I must
explain. Marquis, pardon the liberty I take, but you have inspired me
with an interest in your future. With your birth, connections, and
figure you should push your way in the world far and fast. But you
can't do so in a province. You must find your opening at Paris. I wish
you to spend a year in the capital, and live, not extravagantly, like a
nouveau riche, but in a way not unsuited to your rank, and permitting
you all the social advantages that belong to it. These 25,000 francs,
in addition to your improved income, will enable you to gratify my wish
in this respect. Spend the money in Paris; you will want every sou of
it in the course of the year. It will be money well spent. Take my
advice, _cher Marquis. Au plaisir_."

The financier bowed himself out. The young Marquis forgot all the
mournful reflections with which Raoul's conversation had inspired him.
He gave a new touch to his toilette, and sallied forth with the air of a
man on whose morning of life a sun heretofore clouded has burst forth and