"If my tone does not suit you, I cannot help it."
"The deuce, my young fellow!" cried the usurer, fiercely. "But, bah!"
he added, twirling his black moustache caressingly between his fingers, "I have proved my bravery scores of times--I, an old soldier, perforated with bullets, can pa.s.s such words unnoticed. My dear client, the name and address of that little girl were found on my card, because I wrote them down that I might not forget where to find her."
"You know Mademoiselle Mariette then?"
"Most a.s.suredly!"
"You court her?"
"Once in a while."
"And you hope?--"
"Much."
"Monsieur, I forbid you to ever set foot in her home again!"
"So I have found a rival!" said the usurer to himself. "Ah! I now understand the girl"s refusal. I must sound him, drive him to jealousy, push him into a trap. The girl is worth having, and I must check this pa.s.sionate youth."
"My dear sir," he asked aloud, "when I am forbidden to do a thing, I consider it my first duty to do that very thing."
"That remains to be seen!"
"Listen, young man; I have fought fifty-seven duels, and can therefore dispense with the fifty-eighth. I prefer to reason with you. Allow me one question: You have just returned from a journey?"
"I have."
"You were absent several days, and have not seen Mariette since your return?"
"But--"
"My dear young friend, you only share the lot of many others. Mariette knows nothing of your wealth; so when I offered her enough to turn the head of any starved working girl, she accepted with delight. Her G.o.dmother, who is also half starved, has a natural inclination for the luxuries of this life, and as the absent ones are always in the wrong--you understand--"
"Oh, my G.o.d! is it true then!" moaned Louis piteously, his wrath giving way to hopeless despair.
"Had I known I was entering in compet.i.tion with a future client I would have abandoned the game," resumed the usurer; "but it is too late now.
Besides, my young friend, there is nothing to cry about. This girl was much too inexperienced for you; you would have had to form her, while there are many charming women ready to drop in your arms. I would particularly recommend a certain Madame de Saint-Hildebrande--"
"Wretch!" cried Louis indignantly, grasping him by the collar and shaking him vigorously. "You miserable scoundrel!"
"Sir, you will give me satisfaction for this--!" gasped the enraged commander.
The door opened abruptly and the two adversaries turned their heads simultaneously as a gay burst of laughter rang through the room.
"Saint-Herem!" exclaimed Louis, recognizing his old friend.
"You here!" cried Florestan de Saint-Herem, grasping the young man"s hand and gazing curiously into his pale face.
"May the devil take him for coming in at this moment!" muttered the usurer between his clenched teeth, as he readjusted the collar of his dressing-gown.
CHAPTER IX.
Florestan de Saint-Herem was a man of thirty, at the most, with handsome features and a commanding, elegant figure. His physiognomy expressed both intelligence and wit, but often wore a mask of supercilious impertinence when addressing persons of the same stamp as the usurer.
The first moment of surprise and greeting over, the actors in the foregoing scene resumed their antagonistic att.i.tude toward each other.
Louis, still pale with indignation, glared at his adversary fiercely, while the latter faced him defiantly.
"To dare raise a hand on me!--an old soldier!" cried the commander, advancing threateningly toward Louis. "This will not pa.s.s unpunished, Monsieur Richard!"
"As you wish, Monsieur de La Miraudiere," returned Louis.
"Monsieur de La Miraudiere!" repeated Florestan, with a sarcastic laugh. "What! do you take this fellow seriously, my good Louis? Do you believe in his military t.i.tle, his cross, his campaigns, his wounds, his duels, and his sonorous name of de La Miraudiere?"
"Your jests are entirely out of place!" cried the usurer, flushing angrily, "and I will not endure them in my own house, Monsieur de Saint-Herem!--Indeed I will not, my dear fellow."
"His name is Jerome Porquin, my dear Louis," sneered Saint-Herem, "and it seems admirably chosen, does it not?" Then, turning to the crushed usurer, he added in a tone that admitted of no retort: "Monsieur Porquin, this is the second time I am forced to forbid you to address me as "_your dear fellow_." With me it is a different matter; I have bought and paid for the right of calling you my _dear_, my enormously _dear_, my too _dear_ Monsieur Porquin, for you have swindled me outrageously and cost me a good round sum!"
"Sir, I will not suffer this!" cried the wrathful usurer.
"Whence comes this timid sensitiveness on the part of M. Porquin?"
asked Florestan, derisively. "What has happened? Ah! I see. This _dear_ M. Porquin does not enjoy having his lies and vain pretentious unmasked in your presence, Louis. Well, I will tell you who M. de La Miraudiere really is. He once served the rations in the army, and in that capacity went to Madrid during the last war. This is the only service he has ever seen, and he was discharged from that for dishonesty. He has never fought a duel for, to begin with, he is too cowardly, and then he knows well that a gentleman would receive a challenge from him with contempt; and if driven to extremities by his insolence, he would simply teach him a lesson with his walking-stick."
"When you stand in need of me you treat me with more delicacy!" sneered the usurer.
"When I need your services I pay for them; and as I know your unscrupulous character, it is my duty to warn M. Richard, whose friend I have the honor to be. You are doubtless trying to entice him into your net."
"Ah! this is the reward I get for my services!" cried M. Porquin, bitterly. "I reveal a secret of the highest importance to your friend, and--"
"I now understand your object in coming to me," interrupted Louis, dryly. "I owe you no thanks for the service you have rendered me--if it is a service," he concluded sadly.
The usurer had no intention of giving up his prey without a struggle, however, and turning to Florestan, with the same ease as if they had been on the most friendly terms, he said conciliatingly:
"M. Louis Richard can tell you what conditions I proposed and under what circ.u.mstances I made him this offer; you will then be better able to judge if my demands were exorbitant. Furthermore, if I disturb you in your conversation, gentlemen, you may enter the drawing-room. If M.
Richard wishes to consult you on the subject, I shall await his decision here."
"This is the most intelligent phrase you have uttered yet," returned Saint-Herem, taking Louis" arm to lead him into the adjoining room.
"And when we get through, I shall tell you the object of my visit. Or, rather, I will tell you now. I must have two hundred louis this evening. Here are the securities; examine them at your leisure."
Drawing a bundle of papers from his pocket, he tossed them carelessly toward the usurer and left the room with his friend.
The haughty brutality with which Florestan had unmasked Porquin had proved a new blow to Louis Richard. The thought that Mariette had sacrificed him for such a wretch, filled his heart with bitterness and resentment, and, unable to control his emotion longer, he burst into tears the moment he found himself alone with his friend.
"Ah! Florestan, I am unhappy!" he sobbed, as he clasped his companion"s hand.