Chauvignac thought his young neophyte sufficiently prepared, to receive what he had to impart.
"Listen to me," whispered he, in a mysterious voice. "You have doubtless heard the following proverb, old as the world itself: Men are divided into two classes, Dupers and Dupes. Come, speak frankly, to which of these categories would you like to belong?"
"Why you see, you are so abrupt in your question. You come on one so suddenly; it requires reflection."
"Agreed," observed this second Mephistophiles, "we will make the reflections together, and will study the subject, in some individuals of that great and motley crowd, which is termed 'society.'"
The two friends were, at that moment, standing at the door of one of the largest and best cafés in the town.
It was Sunday; the weather was fine, and crowds of pedestrians were lounging up and down before them.
"Look," said Chauvignac, "do you see that thin miserable man, with his head bowed down, and his clothes hanging in rags? He is an unfortunate fellow, who has worked all his life to pay off the debts left by his father. He is old: he has hardly bread to put in his mouth. You will observe no one takes any notice of him. Now, look at that stout man, so puffed up with pride and insolence; how pleased he seems with himself, as they say, like a peacock spreading his tail. He has been a merchant, and has made his money by fraud and cheating. He afterwards set up as a banker, and lent money at an usurious interest. He is now a millionnaire. See—he bows with a patronising air to all whom he meets. The first is a dupe, the second a duper."
"Or to speak more plainly," added Olivier, "the first is an honest man, the second a rogue."
"Be it so—I grant you that," continued the tempter, "but now I will give you another example, of which you will not be able to make the same observation.
"You, better than any one else, ought to know an intelligent, generous-hearted, and ambitious young man, who, for want of sufficient means, leads a life of privation and troubles, is overwhelmed with debt, and, if he thinks of playing to retrieve his fortunes, he is sure to lose. Near to him, at this moment, is one of his friends, who, without fixed income or expectations, possesses, nevertheless, a never ending fortune. This man always wins at play, and has not a caprice ungratified.