To the young Marquis, the gayety, the heartiness of his college friend were a cordial. How different from the dry counsels of the Count de Vandemar! Hope, though vaguely, entered into his heart. Willingly he accepted Frederic’s invitation, and the young men were soon rapidly borne along the Champs Elysees. As briefly as he could Alain described the state of his affairs, the nature of his mortgages, and the result of his interview with M. Gandrin.
Frederic listened attentively. “Then Gandrin has given you as yet no answer?”
“None; but I have a note from him this morning asking me to call to-morrow.”
“After you have seen him, decide on nothing,—if he makes you any offer. Get back your abstract, or a copy of it, and confide it to me. Gandrin ought to help you; he transacts affairs in a large way. ‘Belle clientele’ among the millionnaires. But his clients expect fabulous profits, and so does he. As for your principal mortgagee, Louvier, you know, of course, who he is.”
“No, except that M. Hebert told me that he was very rich.”
“‘Rich’ I should think so; one of the Kings of Finance, Ah! observe those young men on horseback.”
Alain looked forth and recognized the two cavaliers whom he had conjectured to be the sons of the Count de Vandemar.
“Those ‘beaux garcons’ are fair specimens of your Faubourg,” said Frederic; “they would decline my acquaintance because my grandfather kept a shop, and they keep a shop between them.”
“A shop! I am mistaken, then. Who are they?”
“Raoul and Enguerrand, sons of that mocker of man, the Count de Vandemar.”