"First of all let us sell your shares, mon ami. They have still some sort of a value, and we must begin to glean the field. I will be back in an hour."
M. Beaupaire went into the Bourse and tried to sell the shares. He managed to sell 1,000 at 5 francs, and another 4,000 at 2 frs. 50, but after that there were no offers.
He found Payot looking the image of despair.
"Never mind, I have sold 5,000 shares for 19,000 frs. That is better than nothing anyhow," cried Beaupaire cheerily. "By the way, have you no friends at all who can help you, mon ami?"
"You know what friends are when you have no money."
"Well, well, surely there are some decent ones left?"
"I know the Villebois family, but I don't like to ask assistance of him."
"Don't you know anyone else—come now think?"
"No, I know no one. Stop, there is Professor Delapine. Perhaps he would not refuse to listen to me because he is engaged to my daughter."
"What? Do you mean Professor Henri Delapine of the Sorbonne?"