"M. de la Miraudière, I feel sure that you must be labouring under a misapprehension in relation to a very nice young girl who—according to your account—has fallen a victim to your charms. Will you do me the favour to tell me the truth so I may know what action to take in the matter?"
Concluding that it would be politic to sacrifice a caprice that he had little chance of gratifying to the advantage of having Louis Richard for a client, Porquin replied:
"I must confess that I deeply deplore a stupid jest that seems to have annoyed M. Richard so much."
"I told you so," remarked Florestan, turning to his friend. "And now M. le commandant must do me the favour to explain how the idea of this stupid jest, or rather what I should call an atrocious calumny, happened to occur to him."
"The explanation is very simple, monsieur. I saw Mlle. Mariette several times in the establishment where she is employed. Her beauty struck me. I asked for her address, secured it, and, finding her godmother at home when I called, I proposed to her that—"
"Enough, monsieur, enough!" cried Louis, indignantly.
"Permit me to add, however, that the aforesaid godmother declined my offer, and that the young lady, herself, chancing to come about that time, coolly ordered me out of the house. I am making a frank confession, you see, M. de Saint-Herem. I do it, I admit, in the hope that it will gain me M. Richard's confidence, and that he will decide to accept my services. As for you, M. de Saint-Herem," continued the usurer, in his most ingratiating manner, "I have examined the securities you submitted to me, and I will bring you the money you want this evening. And, by the way, when you hear the offer I have made to M. Richard, I feel confident that you will consider my terms very reasonable."
"I do not want your money, monsieur," said Louis, "and I consider it an insult for you to think me capable of trading upon my father's death, as it were—"
"But, my dear client, permit me to say—"
"Come, Florestan, let us go," Louis said to his friend, without paying the slightest attention to the usurer's protest.