The Parisians, Book 2.

pear. Her husband was accustomed to give diners d'hommes. The great man had not yet arrived. "I think, Marquis," said M. Gandrin, "that you will not regret having followe

is. Ma foi, excuse my bluntness, but you are a fort beau garcon. Monsieur your father was a handsome man, but you beat him hollow. Gandrin, my friend, would not you and I give half our fortunes for one year of this fine fellow's youth spent at Paris? Peste! what love- letters we should have, with no need to buy them by billets de banque!" Thus he ran on, much to Alain's confusion, till dinner was announced. Then there was something grandiose in the frank bourgeois style wherewith he expanded his napkin and twisted one end into his waistcoat; it was so manly a renunciation of the fashions which a man so repandu in all circles might be supposed to follow,-as if he were both too great and too much in earnest for such frivolities. He was evidently a sincere bon vivant, and M. Gandrin had no less evidently taken all requisite pains to gratify his taste. The Montrachet served with the oysters was of precious vintage; that vin de madere which accompanied the potage a la bisque

present from the

eople the English. You have never visited England, I presume, cher Rochebriant?" The aff

rstand each other. He took a tone of grand seigneur that sometimes wounded me; and I in turn was perhaps too rude in asserting my rights-as creditor, shall I say?-no, as fellow-citizen; and Frenchmen are so vain, so over-susceptible; fire up at a word; take offence when none is meant. We two, my dear boy, should be superior to such national foibles. Bref -I

ised," said

e a large sum of money set free in a few days. Of course, mortgages on land don't pay like

laugh and a sly wink, on the plea that he was going to pay his respects-as doubtless that joli garcon was going

say to you on business about the contract for that new street of mi

is host, more surprised than disappointed that the financier had not invite

y rude rather than bluntly cordial. "Gandrin, what did you mean by saying that t

seemed to take to

iant; how he coloured when I called him 'dear boy'? These aristocrats think we ought to thank them on our knees when they take our money,

, millionnaires are the real aristocrats, for they have power, as my beau Marquis will soon find. I must bid you good night. Of course I shall see Ma

n why you did not

der to myself. No; when he comes to my house he shall meet lions and viveurs of the haut ton, who will play into m