"I wish to know how Mademoiselle Mariette Moreau's address comes to be on this card!" repeated Louis coldly. "The devil! he must have lost his senses!" said the usurer. "My dear young fellow, I speak to you of millions, of thirty thousand francs yearly, and you answer by speaking of--grisettes!" "When I ask a question, monsieur," thundered Louis, "I expect a reply!" "And you assume such a tone with me, my young friend!" "If my tone does not suit you, I cannot help it." "The deuce, my young fellow!" cried the usurer, fiercely. "But, bah!" he added, twirling his black moustache caressingly between his fingers, "I have proved my bravery scores of times--I, an old soldier, perforated with bullets, can pass such words unnoticed. My dear client, the name and address of that little girl were found on my card, because I wrote them down that I might not forget where to find her." "You know Mademoiselle Mariette then?" "Most assuredly!" "You court her?" "Once in a while." "And you hope?--" "Much." "Monsieur, I forbid you to ever set foot in her home again!" "So I have found a rival!" said the usurer to himself. "Ah! I now understand the girl's refusal. I must sound him, drive him to jealousy, push him into a trap. The girl is worth having, and I must check this passionate youth." "My dear sir," he asked aloud, "when I am forbidden to do a thing, I consider it my first duty to do that very thing." "That remains to be seen!" "Listen, young man; I have fought fifty-seven duels, and can therefore dispense with the fifty-eighth. I prefer to reason with you. Allow me one question: You have just returned from a journey?" "I have." "You were absent several days, and have not seen Mariette since your return?" "But--" "My dear young friend, you only share the lot of many others. Mariette knows nothing of your wealth; so when I offered her enough to turn the head of any starved working girl, she accepted with delight. Her godmother, who is also half starved, has a natural inclination for the luxuries of this life, and as the absent ones are always in the wrong--you understand--" "Oh, my God! is it true then!" moaned Louis piteously, his wrath giving way to hopeless despair. "Had I known I was entering in competition with a future client I would have abandoned the game," resumed the usurer; "but it is too late now. Besides, my young friend, there is nothing to cry about. This girl was much too inexperienced for you; you would have had to form her, while there are many charming women ready to drop in your arms. I would particularly recommend a certain Madame de Saint-Hildebrande--" "Wretch!" cried Louis indignantly, grasping him by the collar and shaking him vigorously. "You miserable scoundrel!" "Sir, you will give me satisfaction for this--!" gasped the enraged commander. The door opened abruptly and the two adversaries turned their heads simultaneously as a gay burst of laughter rang through the room.