"But how did it get into your hands?"
"Oh, in a very simple way: I bought and paid for it."
"You, signor? For what purpose?"
"Could it not be for the purpose of doing you a service?"
The vicomte shrugged his shoulders; he had no faith in his fellow-men.
"You are right," said Fernando, replying to the dumb protest, "I will be truthful with you. I would not want the Vicomte de Talizac to go under, because my fate is closely attached to his, and because the vicomte's father, the Marquis de Fougereuse, has done great service for the cause I serve. Therefore if I earnestly ask you not to commit such follies any more, you will thank me for it and acknowledge that this small reciprocation is worth the favor I am showing you."
"Then you will return the paper to me?" cried the vicomte, stretching out his hand for it.
"No, the paper does not belong to me."
"But you just said—"
"That I bought it, certainly. I paid the price for it only because I received the amount from several friends."