Nathaniel paused in his thumbing of his documents; his wide mouth hung open, surprisedly, as he listened. "What?" whispered Stroude. "What? Old Bulfinch lend money without a sponsor?" But Sparhawk, whose perky manner seemed suddenly frozen into one of interest, motioned him to be still. "One thousand dollars," said Monsieur Lafargue, "for six months." "It is a good sum," said the money-lender. "It's a round sum. But, as Mr. Tarrant speaks for you--" "Wait," said the old Frenchman. "Let it be understood, sir, that Mr. Tarrant does not vouch for me. My acquaintance with him has been quite brief." "Mr. Tarrant _vouch_ for you!" the money-lender was heard to laugh; and his gangling son, outside, giggled, and winked his pale eyes in great enjoyment. "No, I understand that, monsieur. But I have heard that you were this nation's friend when it needed a friend in France during our days of struggle; also it's been said that you helped forward the cause of the people in your own country; and these things mean a deal to a republican like me." Stroude seemed stupefied by these virtuous sentiments; Sparhawk pursed up his lips and closed his eyes reflectively. The jaw of Nathaniel once more hung open in surprise. "Sign your name to that," resumed the money-lender, "and you shall have the money in hand." There was a sound of some one getting up, the snapping back of locks, and the groaning of heavy hinges. Papers rustled and gold chinked on a table. Then the strong box was closed and the bolts were re-shot into their sockets. "Well, now," said the soothing voice, "that is done with. There I have your note of hand, monsieur, and you have my money." "With the conditions what they are," said Monsieur Lafargue, "I am astonished at your generous treatment of me. We do not transact business upon such principles in France." "No more do we here," said the money-lender, "except upon such occasions as this. But we must do our best by our French friends, more especially when they, in turn, are friends of so distinguished a patriot as Citizen Genêt." Sparhawk, who had continued to sit with closed eyes, now opened them, narrowly; his breath all but stopped. "You are a friend of the citizen's, are you not?" asked the money-lender in his sweetest voice. "We have known each other many years," said Lafargue. "To know a patriot like that must give a deal of satisfaction," said the money-lender. "A great deal of satisfaction, indeed." A few moments later the door of the inner room opened, and Monsieur Lafargue, infirm but holding his white head up with his customary air, came out. Following him was Amos Bulfinch. "Mr. Sparhawk," said the latter with a little bow, "I'm pleased to see you here. And you, sir," urbanely, to the frowning Stroude. Then turning to Nathaniel, he added, "My son, the stairs are dark and not quite safe for a gentleman of Monsieur Lafargue's years. Will you go with him, down into the court?"