"This is abominable, a veritable outrage!" cried the business man in a tone of righteous indignation; "to bring up a young man in such error! to condemn him to spend the brightest years of his life in slavery! to reduce him to a shabby coat, blue stockings and laced shoes! But, happily—there is a Providence, and that Providence you see in me, my young friend. It appears to you under the features of Commander de La Miraudière!"
"I am weary of this by-play, monsieur," returned Louis, impatiently.
"Pray explain yourself clearly, or I shall go."
"Very well!—You believe your father to be almost in want, do you not?"
"I am not ashamed of our poverty—"
"Oh! candid young man!"
"What do you mean?"
"Listen, and you will then bless me as your saviour forever after."
Opening a voluminous register, he read the following statement:
"Record of personal property of Alexandre Timoleon
Benedict Richard (information taken by Credit
Committee of the Bank of France, May 1, 18—.)
Three thousand, nine hundred and twenty
shares in the Bank of France (actual value) .. 924,300 frs.
Bonds of the Mont-de-Piété ………………… 875,250 frs.
Deposit in Bank of France …………………. 259,130 frs.
Total …………………………….. 2,058,680 frs."
"As you see, my innocent young friend," continued the pompous commander, "the known personal property of your esteemed and honorable father amounts to two millions, fifty-eight thousand, six hundred and eighty francs, according to official statistics. But everything leads us to believe that, like all misers, your worthy father has a good round lump of gold hidden somewhere. But even placing things at their lowest, you see that the author of your being possesses over two millions, at least. As his income is about a hundred thousand livres per annum, and he does not spend twelve hundred francs, you shall enjoy a very large fortune some day; you can, therefore, feel no astonishment at my offer."