“Why be in haste to tell of it, monsieur? It is nothing to boast of, surely!”
“Why? Because I can help you. I am going to help you. I intended to when I came here, if I found you were in need of it.”
“I have not said I was in need. I ask no one for help. What I ask for is—work!”
“Young man, you are altogether too proud! You should take lessons of Young America! Young America isn’t afraid of the jingling of coin. Young America doesn’t spurn a good offer. Young America would jump at the chance. But as for work, why, work will come to you if you only wait for it long enough. ‘Patient waiters are no losers.’”
“Wait, wait, wait! mon Dieu! and the child there!”
“Yes, we must think of her! Come, my dear fellow, you’ve had a hard row to hoe. No use denying!”
Julien was silent for a few moments; then he said:
“I will confess, monsieur, that I have seen times when I have wished myself well back in France. There, at least, one could fight for one’s country.”
“Is it worth fighting for? Poor France!—a republic, a kingdom, an empire, a bedlam, by fits! ruled yesterday by an idiot, to-day by a lynx, to-morrow by a pack of bloodhounds! Better off where you are, young man; better off where you are.”