"I don't know, I am sure."
"I, an old soldier who have fought in twenty campaigns, and have ten wounds! I, who am hand and glove with all the lions of Paris! I, who keep my carriage and spend twenty thousand francs a year! Speak out, what security do you want? If you say so, the apartment shall be furnished within a week, the lease made out in your name, and the rent paid one year in advance; besides, you shall have the twenty-five or thirty louis I have about me to bind the bargain, if you like."
And as he spoke, he drew a handful of gold from his pocket and threw it on the little table by the sick woman's bed, adding: "You see I am not like you. I am not afraid of being robbed, Mother Lacombe."
On hearing the chink of coin, the invalid leaned forward, and cast a greedy, covetous look upon the glittering pile. Never in her life had she had a gold coin in her possession, and now she could not resist the temptation to touch the gleaming metal, and let it slip slowly through her fingers.
"I can at least say that I have handled gold once in my life," the sick woman murmured, hoarsely.
"It is nothing to handle it, Mother Lacombe. Think of the pleasure of spending it."
"There is enough here to keep one in comfort five or six months," said the old woman, carefully arranging the gold in little piles.
"And remember that you and Mariette can have as much every month if you like, Mother Lacombe, in good, shining gold, if you wish it."
After a long silence, the sick woman raised her hollow eyes to the stranger's face, and said:
"You think Mariette pretty, monsieur. You are right, and there is not a better-hearted, more deserving girl in the world. Well, be generous to her. This money is a mere trifle to a man as rich as you are. Make us a present of it."