It was not without mature thought that M. Costeclar had determinedto withdraw, despite M. Favoral's pressing overtures. Howeverinfatuated he might be with his own merits, he had been compelledto surrender to evidence, and to acknowledge that he had not exactlysucceeded with Mlle. Gilberte. But he also knew that he had thehead of the house on his side; and he flattered himself that hehad produced an excellent impression upon the guests of the house.

"Therefore," had he said to himself, "if I leave first, they willsing my praise, lecture the young person, and make her listen toreason."He was not far from being right. Mme. Desciavettes had beencompletely subjugated by the grand manners of this pretender; andM. Desclavettes did not hesitate to affirm that he had rarely metany one who pleased him more.

The others, M. Chapelain and old Desormeaux, did not, doubtless,share this optimism; but M. Costeclar's annual half-millionobscured singularly their clear-sightedness.

They thought perhaps, they had discovered in him some alarmingfeatures; but they had full and entire confidence in their friendFavoral's prudent sagacity.

The particular and methodic cashier of the Mutual Credit was notapt to he enthusiastic; and, if he opened the doors of his house toa young man, if he was so anxious to have him for his son-in-law,he must evidently have taken ample information.

Finally there are certain family matters from which sensible peoplekeep away as they would from the plague; and, on the question ofmarriage especially, he is a bold man who would take side for oragainst.

Thus Mme. Desciavettes was the only one to raise her voice. TakingMlle. Gilberte's hands within hers:

"Let me scold you, my dear," said she, "for having received thus apoor young man who was only trying to please you."Excepting her mother, too weak to take her defence, and her brother,who was debarred from interfering, the young girl understood readily,that, in that parlor, every one, overtly or tacitly, was against her.

The idea came to her mind to repeat there boldly what she had alreadytold her father that she was resolved not to marry, and that shewould not marry, not being one of those weak girls, without energy,whom they dress in white, and drag to church against their will.

Such a bold declaration would be in keeping with her character.

But she feared a terrible, and perhaps degrading scene. The mostintimate friends of the family were ignorant of its most painfulsores. In presence of his friends, M. Favoral dissembled, speakingin a mild voice, and assuming a kindly smile. Should she suddenlyreveal the truth?

"It is childish of you to run the risk of discouraging a cleverfellow who makes half a million a year," continued the wife of theold bronze-merchant, to whom such conduct seemed an abominable crimeof lese-money. Mlle. Gilberte had withdrawn her bands.

"You did not hear what he said, madame.""I beg your pardon: I was quite near, and involuntarily -""You have heard his - propositions?""Perfectly. He was promising you a carriage, a box at the opera,diamonds, freedom. Isn't that the dream of all young ladies?""It is not mine, madame!""Dear me! What better can you wish? You must not expect more froma husband than he can possibly give.""That is not what I shall expect of him."In a tone of paternal indulgence, which his looks belied:

"She is mad," suggested M. Favoral.

Tears of indignation filled Mlle. Gilberte's eyes.

"Mme. Desciavettes," she exclaimed, "forgets something. She forgetsthat this gentleman dared to tell me that he proposed to settle uponthe woman he marries a large fortune, of which his creditors wouldthus be cheated in case of his failure in business."She thought, in her simplicity, that a cry of indignation would riseat these words. Instead of which:

"Well, isn't it perfectly natural?" said M. Desclavettes.

"It seems to me more than natural," insisted Mme. Desclavettes,"that a man should be anxious to preserve from ruin his wife andchildren.""Of course," put in M. Favoral.

Stepping resolutely toward her father:

"Have you, then, taken such precautions yourself?" demanded Mlle.

Gilberte.

"No," answered the cashier of the Mutual Credit. And, after amoment of hesitation:

"But I am running no risks," he added. "In business, and when aman may be ruined by a mere rise or fall in stocks, he would beinsane indeed who did not secure bread for his family, and, aboveall, means for himself, wherewith to commence again. The Baron deThaller did not act otherwise; and, should he meet with a disaster,Mme. de Thaller would still have a handsome fortune."M. Desormeaux was, perhaps, the only one not to admit freely thattheory, and not to accept that ever-decisive reason, " Others do it."But he was a philosopher, and thought it silly not to be of his time.

He therefore contented himself with saying:

"Hum! M. de Thaller's creditors might not think that mode ofproceeding entirely regular.""Then they might sue," said M. Chapelain, laughing. "People canalways sue; only when the papers are well drawn -"Mlle. Gilberte stood dismayed. She thought of Marius de Tregarsgiving up his mother's fortune to pay his father's debts.

"What would he say," thought she, "should he hear such opinions!"The cashier of the Mutual Credit resumed:

"Surely I blame every species of fraud. But I pretend, and Imaintain, that a man who has worked twenty years to give a handsomedowry to his daughter has the right to demand of his son-in-lawcertain conservative measures to guarantee the money, which, afterall, is his own, and which is to benefit no one but his own family."This declaration closed the evening. It was getting late. TheSaturday guests put on their overcoats; and, as they were wa............