"I was just coming from Van Klopen's," she resumed; "and passing before your house, I took a fancy to come in and stir you up; and here I am."
M. de Tregars was too much a man of the world, and of the best world, to allow his features to betray the secret of his impressions; and yet, to any one who had known him well, a certain contraction of the eyelids would have revealed a serious annoyance and an intense anxiety.
"How is the baron?" he inquired.
"As sound as an oak," answered Mme. de Thaller, "notwithstanding all the cares and the troubles, which you can well imagine. By the way, you know what has happened to us?"
"I read in the papers that the cashier of the Mutual Credit had disappeared."
"And it is but too true. That wretch Favoral has gone off with an enormous amount of money."
"Twelve millions, I heard."
"Something like it. A man who had the reputation of a saint too; a puritan. Trust people's faces after that! I never liked him, I confess. But M. de Thaller had a perfect fancy for him; and, when he had spoken of his Favoral, there was nothing more to say. Any way, he has cleared out, leaving his family without means. A very interesting family, it seems, too, - a wife who is goodness itself, and a charming daughter: at least, so says Costeclar, who, is very much in love with her."
M. de Tregars' countenance remained perfectly indifferent, like that of a man who is hearing about persons and things in which he does not take the slightest interest.
Mme. de Thaller noticed this.
But it isn't to tell you all this," she went on, "that I came up.
It is an interested motive brought me. We have, some of my friends and myse1f, organized a lottery - a work of charity, my dear marquis, and quite patriotic - for the benefit of the Alsatians, I have lots of tickets to dispose of; and I've thought of you to help me out."
More smiling than ever, "I am at your orders, madame," answered Marius, "but, in mercy, spare me."
She took out some tickets from a small shell pocket-book.
"Twenty, at ten francs," she said. "It isn't too much, is it?"
It is a great deal for my modest resources."
She pocketed the ten napoleons which he handed her, and, in a tone of ironical compassion, "Are you so very poor, then?" she asked.
"Why, I am neither banker nor broker, you know."
She had risen, and was smoothing the folds of her dress.
"Well, my dear marquis," she resumed, "it is certainly not me who will pity you. When a man of your age, and with your name, remains poor, it is his own fault. Are there no rich heiresses?"
"I confess that I haven't tried to find one yet." She looked at him straight in the eyes, and then suddenly bursting out laughing, "Look around you," she said, "and I am sure you'll not be long discovering a beautiful young girl, very blonde, who would be delighted to become Marquise de Tregars, and who would bring in her apron a dowry of twelve or fifteen hundred thousand francs in good securities, - securities which the Favorals can't carry off.
Think well, and then come to see us. You know that M. de Thaller is very fond of you; and, after all the trouble we have been having, you owe us a visit."
Whereupon she went out, M. de Tregars, going down to escort her to her carriage. But as he came up, "Attention!" he cried to Maxence; "for it's very evident that the Thallers have wind of something."
