The Parisians, Book 9.

keen an anguish was marked by a great t

perty at Rochebriant would be put up to public sale on a certain day, in case all debts due to the mortgagee were not paid before. An hour afterwards came a note from Duplessis

ment" into his pocket,

les

onoured the letter of introduction to her which I owe to your politeness with the most amiable hospitalities; she insisted on my removing from

st to your comforts at Paris; my chateau is only

the outer walls are strong enough to defy time for centuries to come, and a few internal decorations and some modern additions of furnitur

aid Alain, with a somewhat melancholy smile

d be at liberty to make the improvements I desire, and when the improvements be made, there should be a fair arrangement as to the proportion of profits due to me as mortgagee and improver, to you as original owner. Attend, my dear Marquis,-I am speaking as a mere man of business. I see my way to adding more than a third, I might even say a half-to the present revenues of Rochbriant. The woods have been sadly neglected, drainage alone would add greatly to their produce. Your orchards might be rendered magnificent supplies to Paris with better cultivation. Lastly, I would devote to building purposes or to market gardens all the lands round the two towns of --- and -----. I think I can lay my hands on suitable speculators for these last

the quick affectionate impulse of the genuine French nature, thre

ill pray for you as for a father; and if ever," he hurried on in broken words, "I am mean enough to squander on id

he added, with the sardonic smile which often chilled his friends and alarmed his foes, "Monsieur Louvier is about to pass that which I ventured to promise him, _a 'mauvais quart-d'heure.' Le

cepted the invitation. How h