"Those words have been sadly abused of late, monsieur. And if your love of liberty compels you to go abroad in shabby clothes, it seems to me that you would do well to prefer love of work to it." "Look you, my dear monsieur, I believe that you are undertaking to preach to me--and I have never stood that from anybody!" "Perhaps that is the great mistake you have made." "Corbleu! you are lucky to be the uncle of a young man for whom I felt at once a sincere affection.--Let us say no more. Gustave is in Spain?" "Yes, monsieur." "For a long time?" "I cannot tell exactly." "That's as good a way as any of not telling me. But when he is in Paris, I promise you that I shall not fail to find him." "Have you anything important to say to him, monsieur? if so, tell it to me, and I will transmit it." Cherami reflected a moment, then pulled his hat over his eyes, and said: "No, I simply wanted to shake hands with him, to inquire for his health, and to find out whether he is finally cured of his love for the faithless Fanny." "His letters tell me that his health is good. As for his foolish passion for a woman who never loved him, I like to believe that it has succumbed to absence." "Say rather to the glances of the Andalusians; for they have terrible eyes, those Spanish women! I know something of them. I have known three, who----" "Pardon me, monsieur; but I am very busy, and, if you have nothing else to say to me----" "Ah! you dismiss me?--Very good; that's very polite. I have my cue!" "You have your cue? What do you mean by that?" "Oh! it's of no consequence. It's a little phrase which I often use; it's as if I said: 'I see where I stand.'" "That makes a difference, monsieur. I wish you good-morning!" "And I wish you nothing at all!" Thereupon Cherami left the banker's office, saying to himself: "There's a tough old uncle for you! I think I won't borrow money of him--I won't do him that honor. No, never! especially as he wouldn't lend me any." XXVI A CAFE ACQUAINTANCE Cherami strolled about at random for some time, seeking some person of his acquaintance with whom he could negotiate a small loan. But he saw few save unfamiliar faces, and if by chance he did espy some former friend, that friend turned away to avoid meeting him. "The devil!" said Cherami to himself; "the day opens badly! I counted on Gustave for breakfast, and now it's after twelve o'clock, and I'm as hungry as a cannibal. However, if I must, I will dispose of my new cane. I shall be sorry to do it, for it's a pretty one--a genuine rattan. But I should be still more sorry to go without breakfast. It must have cost at least thirty francs. A dealer will give me six for it,--they have all the cheek they need, those fellows,--and he'll act as if he were doing me a favor! I prefer to leave it in pawn for a beefsteak and its accessories. Come, let us look for a cafe where we can get a good breakfast."