[The term "lender by the week" was explained in The Lesser Bourgeoisie in relation to Cerizet.Oddly, just looking it up, Barbet is mentioned as being higher in the scale of usury than Cerizet; there is a level between them for pawn shops and the like.--JB.]
Monsieur Bernard walked slowly, like a man who is undecided, or like a debtor seeking for excuses to placate a creditor who has just left him with threats.Godefroid, though some distance in front, saw him while pretending to look about and examine the locality.It was not, therefore, till they reached the middle of the great alley of the garden of the Luxembourg that Monsieur Bernard came up to the young man.
"Pardon me, monsieur," said Monsieur Bernard, bowing to Godefroid, who returned his bow."A thousand pardons for stopping you without having the honor of your acquaintance; but is it really your intention to take lodgings in that horrible house you have just left?""But, monsieur--"
"Yes, yes," said the old man, interrupting Godefroid, with a gesture of authority."I know that you may well ask me by what right I meddle in your affairs and presume to question you.Hear me, monsieur; you are young and I am old; I am older than my years, and they are sixty-seven; people take me for eighty.Age and misfortunes justify many things; but I will not make a plea of my whitened head; I wish to speak of yourself.Do you know that this quarter in which you propose to live is deserted by eight o'clock at night, and the roads are full of dangers, the least of which is robbery? Have you noticed those wide spaces not yet built upon, these fields, these gardens? You may tell me that I live here; but, monsieur, I never go out after six o'clock.