"Sacrebleu! let me speak; I am not talking blague now, and you must believe me, because I have no reason for lying. I brought myself up with a sharp turn; I said to myself that, although I am no longer young, I am not old enough yet to live at other people's expense. In short, I don't propose to throw money out of window any more.—Better still: I am conscious now of a desire to do something—to work and occupy my mind. I used to laugh at clerks, at the men employed in offices; but find me such a place, my friend, and I promise you that I'll fill it in such a way that they won't turn me away."
Gustave took Cherami's hand and pressed it warmly.
"This is very well done of you," he said; "I certainly can't blame you for such good resolutions. If you keep to them, why, I will look about, and I will find something for you."
"Oh! I shall keep to them; my mind is made up."
"Meanwhile, as one must never carry anything to excess, there's no law against your drinking champagne, provided you don't get drunk on it."
"Very good; let us drink it, then."
"To my love!"
"To your love! But take my advice, and attend to your business yourself; don't put it in the little sister's hands any more."
"Do you think her capable of doing me a bad turn with Fanny?"
"No, indeed! God forbid! she loves you too well to do you a bad turn with anybody. But the result of my experience is that, in love, you should never employ an ambassador. It's a waste of time."