Rastignac started with surprise at seeing Vautrin.
“Be calm,” said his old fellow-boarder at Madame Vauquer’s. “I am your slave, if only because I find you here. My help is not to be despised; I am, or shall be, more powerful than ever. You slipped your cable, and you did it very cleverly; but you may need me yet, and I will always be at your service.
“But what are you going to do?”
“To supply the hulks with lodgers instead of lodging there,” replied Jacques Collin.
Rastignac gave a shrug of disgust.
“But if you were robbed——”
Rastignac hurried on to get away from Jacques Collin.
“You do not know what circumstances you may find yourself in.”
They stood by the grave dug by the side of Esther’s.
“Two beings who loved each other, and who were happy!” said Jacques Collin. “They are united.—It is some comfort to rot together. I will be buried here.”