that is the way of the world," he said to himself, "ah, yes, it is a cruel, cruel world when the gilding is all brushed off. Alas, the world has no sympathy for the gambler who loses." He was brooding over his terrible blow when M. Beaupaire entered the room. "Bon jour, mon ami, I am delighted to see you." Payot reached out his hand and turned his face aside. "Console me, my good friend," he said, "I am a ruined man." "My dear fellow, don't look so glum as that, things are never so bad that they can't be worse. Come along, cheer up, I have promised to stick to you and help you, and I mean to do it. Here, have a glass of wine with me, and we will see what is the best thing to do now." "It's all up with me, my friend, you can't help me, I am done for." "Pray don't say that. Everything is for the best." "Because everything is for the best, it does not follow that everything is for my best," said Payot gloomily. "My dear sir, don't be down in the dumps. You remember the adage, 'For every evil under the sun There's a remedy or there's none. If there is one try and find it, If there isn't----never mind it.' "Cheer up, old man. Don't you remember the saying of Jean Paul Richter 'Sorrow is often sent for our benefit, just as we darken the cages of the birds in order to teach them to sing.'" Payot heaved a sigh and said nothing. "First of all let us sell your shares, mon ami. They have still some sort of a value, and we must begin to glean the field. I will be back in an hour." M. Beaupaire went into the Bourse and tried to sell the shares. He managed to sell 1,000 at 5 francs, and another 4,000 at 2 frs. 50, but after that there were no offers. He found Payot looking the image of despair. "Never mind, I have sold 5,000 shares for 19,000 frs. That is better than nothing anyhow," cried Beaupaire cheerily. "By the way, have you no friends at all who can help you, mon ami?" "You know what friends are when you have no money." "Well, well, surely there are some decent ones left?" "I know the Villebois family, but I don't like to ask assistance of him." "Don't you know anyone else--come now think?" "No, I know no one. Stop, there is Professor Delapine. Perhaps he would not refuse to listen to me because he is engaged to my daughter." "What? Do you mean Professor Henri Delapine of the Sorbonne?" "Yes, why do you ask?" "My dear fellow, don't lose a minute. He is the very man for you. I know him intimately--an awfully good sort, and clever! Why he is the smartest man in Paris. I'll lay you a wager of any amount you like, that Delapine will pull you through. Shake," he said proffering his hand to Payot who grasped it warmly. "Thank you with all my heart," said Payot; "we will see him immediately," and M. Beaupaire hailed a taxi, and they drove to the Villebois's. M. Beaupaire and Payot were soon engaged in earnest conversation with Delapine, who was propped up in an easy-chair with Renée who sat on a footstool beside him.