The Sire de Jarnonville drew his heavy eyebrows together and muttered some words which Léodgard could not hear; then he raised his head abruptly and said to the young count:
"As I cannot be of any service to you here, I will leave you. Adieu! good luck!"
"Oh! I beg your pardon—another word, Jarnonville," cried Léodgard, detaining the Black Chevalier. "I have a favor to ask of you—that is, if you are in a position to grant it. I lost yesterday at brelan all that I possessed; I have not a sou.—Money! money! When, in God's name, shall I have enough to gratify my desires? to enjoy life? For there is no enjoyment when one is constantly obliged to borrow, to have recourse to usurers. I have been in such straits of late that my valet, that knave Latournelle, has left me, on the pretext that I gambled away his wages! I no longer have any servants, except my father's; but I prefer to go without. That old villain Isaac Lehmann, the money lender, who ordinarily supplies me with funds, is away from Paris at this moment. Do you know another, Jarnonville? If so, will you give me his address; especially as Isaac is beginning to make trouble about lending me any more, although the old rascal knows well enough that he will be paid sooner or later."
"I thought that your father paid all your debts some time ago?"
"Yes, and forbade me to incur any more. Ah! if he knew!—Why, he threatened me with the Bastille!"
"And that does not prevent your running in debt again?"
"Can I live on the miserable allowance he gives me?—Well, Jarnonville, do you know a money lender who may consent to help me at this moment?"
"No, I do not know one, for I have never had any relations with those gentry; but I have two hundred gold pieces about me bearing the effigy of our monarch; I intended to play lansquenet to-night. Here is my purse; if you would like it, it is at your disposal."
"Faith! Jarnonville, it would be a great service to me; but I am afraid of being importunate."
"Not at all—take it."