"You have none; not visible at least. Your household furniture, your horses, do not belong to you, as you declare; this has to me the appearance of a disgraceful fraud." "You are severe, sir; but, admitting what you say, do you not suppose that I shall turn everything into money in such a desperate extremity? Only, as it will be impossible for me to procure, between this and noon to-morrow, the one hundred thousand francs, I entreat you to employ the money I have just handed to you in procuring this unfortunate bill, or, at least, as you are very rich, advance the money. Do not leave me in such a position." "Me? Why, is the man mad?" "Sir, I beseech you, in my father's name, which you have mentioned to me, be so kind as to--" "I am kind to those who deserve it," said the notary, harshly. "An honest man myself, I hate swindlers, and should not be sorry to see one of those high-minded gentlemen, without faith or honour, impious and reprobate, put in the pillory, as an example to others; but I hear your horses, who are impatient to depart, M. le Vicomte," said the notary, with a smile that displayed his black fangs. At this moment some one knocked at the door of the apartment. "Who's there?" inquired Jacques Ferrand. "Madame the Countess d'Orbigny," said the chief clerk. "Request her to wait a moment." "The stepmother of the Marchioness d'Harville?" exclaimed M. de Saint-Remy. "Yes, sir; she has an appointment with me,--so, your servant, sir." "Not a word of this, sir!" cried M. de Saint-Remy, in a menacing voice. "I told you, sir, that a notary is as discreet as a confessor." Jacques Ferrand rang, and the clerk appeared. "Show Madame d'Orbigny in." Then, addressing the viscount, "Take these thirteen hundred francs, sir; they will be something towards an arrangement with M. Petit-Jean." Madame d'Orbigny (formerly Madame Roland) entered at the moment when M. de Saint-Remy went out, his features convulsed with rage at having so uselessly humiliated himself before the notary. "Ah, good day, M. de Saint-Remy," said Madame d'Orbigny; "what a time it is since I saw you!" "Why, madame, since D'Harville's marriage, at which I was present, I do not think I have had the pleasure of meeting you," said M. de Saint-Remy, bowing, and assuming an affable and smiling demeanour. "You have remained in Normandy ever since, I think?" "Why, yes! M. d'Orbigny will only live in the country, and what he likes I like; so you see in me a complete country wife. I have not been in Paris since the marriage of my dear stepdaughter with that excellent M. d'Harville. Do you see him frequently?"