Volume II Part 75 (1/2)
Balbi was under forty, but he was decidedly ugly, having one of those faces in which baseness, cowardice, i to this advantage a tone of voice and manners admirably calculated to repulse anyone inclined to do him a service I found him comfortably housed, well looked after, and well clad; he had books and all the requisites for writing I co hi the saes he enjoyed, and the hope of one day becorateful hound, instead of thankingcraftily rid ht as well take hi him
”What do you want at Paris?”
”What do you want yourself?”
”To put my talents to account”
”So do I”
”Well, then, you don't requireme to Paris would probably not care for me if I had you for a companion”
”You promised not to abandon me”
”Can a man who leaves another well provided for and an assured future be said to abandon hiot a penny”
”What do you ith , clothes, linen, attendance, and so forth And if you want pocket-money, why don't you ask your brethren the monks?”
”Ask ive it”
”Ask your friends, then”
”I have no friends”
”You are to be pitied, but the reason probably is that you have never been a friend to anyone You ought to saymoney”
”I am unknown”
”You must wait, then, till you are known, and then you can estions are idle; you will surely give me a few sequins”
”I can't spare any”
”Wait for the dean He will be back to-morrow You can talk to him and persuade him to lend me some money You can tell him that I will pay it back”
”I cannot wait, for I a out on my journey directly, and were he here this moment I should not have the face to tell hienerous treatment of you, and when he or anyone can see that you have all you need”
After this sharp dialogue I left hi post I set out, displeased with es to aI had a letter froood Dean Bassi, in which he toldwith hiold watch, and a dozen silver spoons and forks He did not knohere he was gone