Produced by David Widger THE PARISIANS By Edward Bulwer-Lytton BOOK V. CHAPTER I. The next day at noon M. Louvier was closeted in his study with M. Gandrin. "Yes," cried Louvier, "I have behaved very handsomely to the _beau Marquis_. No one can say to the contrary." "True," answered Gandrin. "Besides the easy terms for the transfer of the mortgages, that free bonus of one thousand louis is a generous and noble act of munificence." "Is it not! and my youngster has already begun to do with it as I meant and expected. He has taken a fine apartment; he has bought a coupe and horses; he has placed himself in the hands of the Chevalier de Finisterre; he is entered at the Jockey Club. Parbleu, the one thousand louis will be soon gone." "And then?" "And then! why, he will have tasted the sweets of Parisian life; he will think with disgust of the _vieux manoir_. He can borrow no more. I must remain sole mortgagee, and I shall behave as handsomely in buying his estates as I have behaved in increasing his income." Here a clerk entered and said that a monsieur wished to see M. Louvier for a few minutes in private, on urgent business. "Tell him to send in his card." "He has declined to do so, but states that he has already the honour of your acquaintance." "A writer in the press, perhaps; or is he an artist?" "I have not seen him before, Monsieur, but he has the air _tres comme il faut_." "Well, you may admit him. I will not detain you longer, my dear Gandrin. My homages to Madame. Bonjour." Louvier bowed out M. Gandrin, and then rubbed his hands complacently. He was in high spirits. "Aha, my dear Marquis, thou art in my trap now. Would it were thy father instead," he muttered chucklingly, and then took his stand on the hearth, with his back to the fireless grate. There entered a gentleman exceedingly well dressed,--dressed according to the fashion, but still as became one of ripe middle age, not desiring to pass for younger than he was.