“The first does not fall due until the 15th,” remarked he.
“No matter; I have the money with me, and I will pay it on you handing over the bills to me.”
“I can’t do it.”
“And why so, pray?”
“The bills have passed out of my hands.”
Gaston could scarcely credit his ears, nor believe in the truth of this last statement, and was certainly upset, now knowing what to do.
“But,” stammered he, “you promised, when I signed those bills, that they should never go out of your hands.”
“I don’t say I did not; but one can’t always keep to one’s promise. I was forced to part with them. I wanted money, and so had to discount them.”
Andre was not at all surprised, for he had anticipated some such difficulty; and seeing that Gaston had entirely lost his head, he broke in on the conversation.
“Excuse me, sir,” remarked he; “but it seems to me that there are certain circumstances in this case which should have made you keep your promise.”