We have at length been compelled, my dear friend, to resort to a measure which till now we had so happily avoided. Our remittances have failed to arrive—failed, for the first time, in this pressing emergency, and we have been obliged to have recourse to a usurer, as the prince is willing to pay handsomely to keep the affair secret. The worst of this disagreeable occurrence is, that it retards our departure. On this affair the prince and I have had an explanation. The whole transaction had been arranged by Biondello, and the son of Israel was there before I had any suspicion of the fact. It grieved me to the heart to see the prince reduced to such an extremity, and revived all my recollections of the past, and fears for the future; and I suppose I may have looked rather sorrowful and gloomy when the usurer left the room. The prince, whom the foregoing scene had left in not the happiest frame of mind, was pacing angrily up and down the room; the rouleaus of gold were still lying on the table; I stood at the window, counting the panes of glass in the procurator's house opposite. There was a long pause. At length the prince broke silence. "F———!" he began, "I cannot bear to see dismal faces about me."
I remained silent.
"Why do you not answer me? Do I not perceive that your heart is almost bursting to vent some of its vexation? I insist on your speaking, otherwise you will begin to fancy that you are keeping some terribly momentous secret."
"If I am gloomy, gracious sir," replied I, "it is only because I do not see you cheerful."
"I know," continued he, "that you have been dissatisfied with me for some time past—that you disapprove of every step I take—that—what does Count O——— say in his letters?"
"Count O——— has not written to me."
"Not written? Why do you deny it? You keep up a confidential correspondence together, you and the count; I am quite aware of that. Come, you may confess it, for I have no wish to pry into your secrets."
"Count O———," replied I, "has not yet answered any of the three letters which I have written to him."
"I have done wrong," continued he; "don't you think so?" (taking up one of the rouleaus) "I should not have done this?"
"I see that it was necessary."