"Contract debts without number," Saint-Herem interrupted, majestically.
"What, Florestan, with a fortune like that—"
"I should contract debts without number, I tell you. Yes, of course I should."
"What, with a fortune of two or three million francs?"
"With ten, even twenty millions, I should still contract debts. My theory is that of the government,—the larger a country's debt, the better that country's credit is. But I will expound my financial theories some other time. Don't lose a moment now in hastening to Mariette, and be sure and tell me what success you meet with. Here it is nearly noon, and I promised the little perfumer—who amuses me immensely—that she should try a new saddle-horse to-day, the handsomest hack in Paris,—it cost me a nice price, by the way,—and she wrote me this morning to remind me that I had promised to take her to the Bois. So hasten to your Mariette. I feel confident that your love affair will end happily after all. But write to me, or else come and see me as soon as possible, for I shall be so anxious to hear the result of your interview."
"You shall hear from me, my dear Florestan, whatever happens."
"Farewell then, my dear Louis, it is agreed that I shall see or hear from you before to-morrow."
As he spoke, M. de Saint-Herem stepped into the handsomely appointed brougham which was waiting for him at the usurer's door, and Louis Richard wended his way on foot to Mariette's home.
CHAPTER X.
THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED.
When Louis Richard entered the room occupied by Mariette and her godmother, he paused a moment on the threshold, overwhelmed with grief and despair at the affecting scene that presented itself to his gaze.