amours with a delicious Spanish beauty, pretended that he knew some money-lenders; but he strongly advised Rozan never to let himself pass into their hands. This confidential announcement inflamed the duke, who ended by wringing from his dear friend a promise that he would occupy himself about his "little affair." He occupied himself about it so well that he was to bring the money on the very evening that Saccard was to meet him at Laure's. When Larsonneau arrived, the d'Aurigny's large white and gold drawing-room only contained some five or six women, who took hold of his hands, and clung to his neck with a furious outburst of affection. They called him "that big Lar!" a caressing nickname which Laure had invented. And he in a fluty voice exclaimed: "There, that'll do, my little kittens; you will crush my hat." They calmed down, and gathered close around him on a couch, while he told them about an attack of indigestion which had befallen Sylvia, with whom he had supped the night before. Then drawing a sweetmeat box from the pocket of his dress-coat he offered them some burnt almonds. Meanwhile, Laure came out of her bedroom, and as several gentlemen arrived, she drew Larsonneau into a boudoir situated at one end of the drawing-room, from which it was separated by double hangings. "Have you got the money?" she asked him when they were alone. Larsonneau, without replying, bowed in a jocular manner and tapped the inner pocket of his coat. "Oh! you big Lar!" murmured the delighted young woman. She took him round the waist and kissed him. "Wait a bit," she said, "I want the flimsies--Rozan is in my room, I will go and fetch him." But he detained her, and, in his turn, kissing her shoulders: "You know what commission I asked of _you_." "Why, yes, you big stupid, it's agreed." She came back bringing Rozan. Larsonneau was dressed more correctly than the duke, with better fitting gloves, and a more artistic bow to his necktie. They negligently touched hands, and talked about the races of two days before, at which one of their friends had had a horse beaten. Laure stamped impatiently. "Come, never mind all that, my darling," said she to Rozan. "Big Lar has the money, you know. The affair had better be settled." Larsonneau pretended to remember. "Ah, yes, it's true," he said, "I have the amount--But how much better you would have done had you listened to me, my dear fellow! To think that these rogues demanded fifty per cent of me. However I agreed to it all the same, as you told me that it didn't matter."