"My position? Why, pardieu! it's the position of all young men who have lived well, who have amused themselves, and adored the ladies."
"True, monsieur; but perhaps you have been too kind, too generous, to them."
"I have done what I chose; if I could begin over again, I would do the same."
"I don't doubt it, monsieur; and, of course, you are at liberty to dispose of your own property."
"Yes, to be sure I am—that is to say, I was. Come, Bernardin, won't you give me the eleven thousand francs?"
"No, monsieur; for, from above, your father would blame me."
"Give me a thousand crowns, then."
"Not that, either; but I shall continue to pay monsieur the interest; and if I should die to-morrow, my children would continue to pay it. Oh! it's a sacred thing, and monsieur can rely upon it."
"Very good! pay me three years in advance: sixteen hundred and fifty francs. You can't refuse me that?"
"Excuse me, monsieur; I do refuse, and in your own interest; for you would spend the three years' interest in less than six months; and then you would not have even that trifling resource."