"At the successors to Madame Giraud.That's where the gentlemen upstairs go; they are satisfied, and more than satisfied.""Well, I'll take your advice and dine there to-day.""My dear monsieur," said the woman, emboldened by the good-nature which Godefroid intentionally assumed, "tell me seriously, you are not going to be such a muff as to pay Monsieur Bernard's debts? It would really trouble me if you did; for just reflect, my kind monsieur Godefroid, he's nearly seventy, and after him, what then? not a penny of pension! How'll you get paid? Young men are so imprudent! Do you know that he owes three thousand francs?""To whom?" inquired Godefroid.
"Oh! to whom? that's not my affair," said the widow, mysteriously; "it is enough that he does owe them.Between ourselves I'll tell you this:
somebody will soon be down on him for that money, and he can't get a penny of credit now in the quarter just on that account.""Three thousand francs!" repeated Godefroid; "oh, you needn't be afraid I'll lend him that.If I had three thousand francs to dispose of I shouldn't be your lodger.But I can't bear to see others suffer, and just for a hundred or so of francs I sha'n't let my neighbor, a man with white hair too, lack for bread or wood; why, one often loses as much as that at cards.But three thousand francs! good heavens!
what are you thinking of?"
Madame Vauthier, deceived by Godefroid's apparent frankness, let a smile of satisfaction appear on her specious face, which confirmed all her lodger's suspicions.Godefroid was convinced that the old woman was an accomplice in some plot that was brewing against the unfortunate old man.