"I will help you," pursued Godefroid, taking his hand, "but in my own way.Listen to me.What do you mean to make of your grandson?""He is soon to enter the Law school.I am bringing him up to the bar.""Then he will cost you six hundred francs a year."The old man made no reply.
"I myself," continued Godefroid after a pause, "have nothing, but Imay be able to do much.I will obtain the Polish doctor for you.And if your daughter is curable she shall be cured.We will find some way of paying Halpersohn.""Oh! if my daughter be cured I will make a sacrifice I can make but once," cried the old man."I will sell the pear I have kept for a thirsty day.""You shall keep the pair--"
"Oh, youth! youth!" exclaimed Monsieur Bernard, shaking his head.
"Adieu, monsieur; or rather, au revoir.This is the hour for the Library, and as my books are all sold I am obliged to go there every day to do my work.I shall bear in mind the kindness you express, but I must wait and see whether you will grant us the consideration I must ask from my neighbor.That is all I expect of you.""Yes, monsieur, let me be your neighbor; for, I assure you, Barbet is not a man to allow the rooms to be long unrented, and you might have far worse neighbors than I.I do not ask you to believe in me, only to let me be useful to you.""What object have you?" said the old man, preparing to go down the steps from the cloister of the Chartreux which leads from the great alley of the Luxembourg to the rue d'Enfer.
"Did you never, in your public functions, oblige any one?"The old man looked at Godefroid with frowning brows; his eyes were full of memories, like a man who turns the leaves of his book of life, seeking for the action to which he owed this gratitude; then he turned away coldly, with a bow, full of doubt.
"Well, for a first investigation I did not frighten him too much,"thought Godefroid.