"Old friend," said the Governor, "we have known each other for fifty years, and I have never yet asked you to do me a favor, but I am going to ask you now."
"H'm!" said the Factor, with a cold smile.
"It is not for my own needs I ask it, but for one who is nearer to me than myself. We who are fathers know what that means; and we also know that a favor done once to our children is done twice to ourselves."
"H'm, h'm!" said the Factor, with the same cold smile.
"It is a private matter--strictly private--but to you, old friend, I can reveal the secret--your godson has got himself into trouble."
And then, excusing and extenuating nothing, the Governor told the story of Oscar's downfall, and the Factor listened with the impatience of one who had heard the sorry tale before.
"He signed my name also, you say?" said the Factor.
"That, too, unhappily," answered the Governor, "but you were merely made witness to the deed, and I am responsible for the money."
"What are you going to do about it?" asked the Factor in a hard tone.
"Pay it and give the lad another chance in life," replied the Governor. "And that's why I sent for you this morning. I can find fifty thousand crowns and I want you to lend me the other fifty thousand."