"It was, as you say, pitiable." "The idea of entrusting all his money to Destival! He must have lost his senses." "However that may be, monsieur le marquis, I always come back to my principle--I never forgive a man for allowing himself to be robbed." "And you are quite right. Let him rob others--that is to say, make sport of others--and I've not a word to say; that is cleverness, tact!--However, this Dalville is in a most infernal position!" "That's what I thought as soon as he told me he had nothing left." "If he even had any social rank--a title--any of those things that may lead to everything." "In short, if he were noble." "Oh! in that case he might get out of it--but when a man isn't noble it's essential that he should be rich!" "To be sure--that's another of my principles." "And it's all a part of the system of equality and philosophy that I was describing to you just now. I was interested in this Dalville; but my friendship for you takes precedence of everything; that is why I conceive it to be my duty not to conceal anything from you." "Conceal nothing, I pray, monsieur le marquis!" "Do you know what he said to me just now when I was leaving the salon?" "No, I haven't any idea." "Didn't you overhear a word?" "Not a single word." "Well, my dear fellow, he was asking me to lend him money." "Asking you to lend him money?" "Yes, my dear fellow; on my word, that did seem a little bit hasty on his part, I admit." "Hasty! you are very generous, monsieur le marquis! It was much worse than that." "In the first place, I don't know him well enough to----" "And even if you did know him very well--whoever heard of lending money to a man who is ruined, and who has just told you so?--I know him better than you do, and I wouldn't lend him." "In the second place, it's the very worst form to borrow money at a third person's house." "It's shocking form!" "As if he couldn't have come to my house like a man--or waited till another time! But no--he attacks me in your salon! I had to promise to make him a loan--otherwise he wouldn't have let me go." "That is true, I noticed that; and yet you had told him that a truffled turkey was awaiting you, and it seems to me that such a consideration should have imposed silence on him." "You must realize that if he sets about borrowing money in this way from everybody he meets at your house, you will be placed in a false position, and a great many of your acquaintances will be kept away from here; for I don't know of anything that people dread more in society than to be asked to lend money." "Great heaven!" cried La Thomassinière, pacing the floor excitedly. "Why, a man like that would be a veritable scourge, worse than the plague! I believe that I should prefer to see Madame Thomas appear!" "I assure you, my friend, that that would do you less harm."