Page:Ten Years Later.djvu/170

158 "I! I resign my office of inventor."

"Then I will."

"Be it so. But then, set to work without delay."

"Oh! we have time enough."

"You kill me, D'Herblay, with your calmness," said the surintendant, passing his handkerchief over his face.

"Do you not remember that I one day told you not to make yourself uneasy, if you possess but courage? Have you any?"

"I believe so."

"Then don't make yourself uneasy."

"It is decided, then, that at the last moment you will come to my assistance."

"It will only be the repayment of a debt I owe you."

"It is the vocation of financiers to anticipate the wants of men such as yourself, D'Herblay."

"If obligingness is the vocation of financiers, charity is a virtue of the clergy. Only, on this occasion, do you act, monsieur. You are not yet sufficiently reduced, and at the last moment we shall see what is to be done."

"We shall see, then, in a very short time."

"Very well. However, permit me to tell you that, personally, I regret exceedingly that you are at present so short of money, because I was myself about to ask you for some."

"For yourself?"

"For myself, or some of my people, for mine or for ours."

"How much do you want?"

"Be easy on that score; a roundish sum, it is true, but not too exorbitant."

"Tell me the amount."

"Fifty thousand francs."

"Oh! a mere nothing. Of course one has always fifty thousand francs. Why the deuce cannot that knave Colbert be as easily satisfied as you are, and I should give myself far less trouble than I do. When do you need this sum?"

"To-morrow morning; but you require to know its destination."

"Nay, nay, chevalier, I need no explanation."

"To-morrow is the first of June."

"Well?"

"One of our bonds becomes due."

"I did not know we had any bonds."

"Certainly, to-morrow we pay our last third installment."

"What third?"