Читать онлайн
The Parisians – Volume 05
The Parisians — Volume 05
BOOK V
CHAPTER I
The next day at noon M. Louvier was closeted in his study with M. Gandrin.
"Yes," cried Louvier, "I have behaved very handsomely to the beau Marquis. No one can say to the contrary."
"True," answered Gandrin. "Besides the easy terms for the transfer of the mortgages, that free bonus of one thousand louis is a generous and noble act of munificence."
"Is it not! and my youngster has already begun to do with it as I meant and expected. He has taken a fine apartment; he has bought a coupe and horses; he has placed himself in the hands of the Chevalier de Finisterre; he is entered at the Jockey Club. Parbleu, the one thousand louis will be soon gone."
"And then?"
"And then! why, he will have tasted the sweets of Parisian life; he will think with disgust of the vieux manoir. He can borrow no more. I must remain sole mortgagee, and I shall behave as handsomely in buying his estates as I have behaved in increasing his income."
Here a clerk entered and said that a monsieur wished to see M. Louvier for a few minutes in private, on urgent business.
"Tell him to send in his card."
"He has declined to do so, but states that he has already the honour of your acquaintance."