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Rh 828 LOUISE DE LA VALLIEBE. to consult me upon a matter of business which is already completed; but -*' ''Nay, do not say 'but,' dear Monseiur Vanel." "Alas! monseigneur, you see," he said, as he opened a large pocket-book "I have brought the money with me — the whole sum, I mean. And here, monseigneur, is the contract of sale which I have just effected of property be- longing to my wife. The order is authentic in every way, the necessary signatures have been attached to it, and it is made payable at sight; it is ready money, in fact, and, in one word, the whole affair is complete." "My dear Monsieur Vanel, there is not a matter of busi- ness in this world, however important it may be, which can not be postponed in order to oblige a man, who by that means might and would be made a devoted friend." "Certainly," said Vanel awkwardly. "And much more justly acquired would that friend be- come. Monsieur Vanel, since the value of the service he had received would have been so considerable. Well, what do you say? what do you decide?" Vanel preserved a perfect silence. In the meantime, Aramis had continued his close observation of the man. Vanel's narrow face, his deeply sunk orbits, his arched eyebrows, had revealed to the bishop of Vannes the type of an avaricious and ambitious character. Aramis' method was to oppose one passion by another. He saw that Fou- quet was defeated — morally subdued — and so he came to his rescue with fresh weapons in his hands. "Excuse me, monseigneur," he said; "you forget to show Monsieur Vanel that his own interests are diametrically opposed to this renunciation of the sale." Vanel looked at the bishop with astonishment; he had hardly expected to find an auxiliary in him. Fouquet also paused to listen to the bishop. "Do you not see," continued Aramis, "that Monsieur Vanel, in order to purchase your appointment, has been obliged to sell a property which belongs to his wife; well, that is no slight matter, for one cannot displace, as he has done, fourteen or fifteen hundred thousand francs without some considerable loss, and a very serious inconvenience." "Perfectly true," said Vanel, whose secret Aramis had, with his keen-sighted gaze, wrung from the bottom of his heart. "Inconveniences such as these are matters of great ex-
 * 'I am overcome, monseigneur, at the honor you do me