"Why, damn it if I don't think it a forgery. How should such a girl as
that get so much money?"

"Can't conceive. Coax or rob her aunt of it, I suppose. If she's such
another as Frank, she is able to outwit the devil. I hope it may be good.
If it isn't, he sha'n't be his own man one day longer."

"But how did you succeed so well?"

"He asked me yesterday to call once more. So I called, you see,
betimes, and, finding that he had a check for a little more than my debt,
I teased him out of it, promising to give him the balance. I pity the
fellow from my soul. It was all for trinkets and furniture bought by that
prodigal jade, Mademoiselle Couteau. She would ruin a prince, if she had
him as much at her command as she has Frank. Little does the sister know
for what purpose she gives her money: however, that, as I said before, be
her look-out."

During this dialogue, my eye was fixed upon the artist, who, with the
watch open in one hand, and a piece of wire in the other, was describing,
with great formality, the exact nature of the defect and the whole process
of the cure; but, though I looked steadfastly at him, I heard not a
syllable of his dissertation. I broke away when his first pause allowed
me.

The strongest emotion in my heart was resentment. That my name should
be prostituted by the foul mouths of such wretches, and my money be
squandered for the gratification of a meretricious vagabond, were
indignities not to be endured. I was carried involuntarily towards my