Part 33 (1/2)

”Nothing,” she replied. ”What you have promised me is enough. Now I feel that I am saved. Our house, you said so, we are in our own house here.

If the creditors will not believe me when I tell them to have patience--”

”They will believe you,” said Vaudrey. ”Come, we will find the means--On my signature, any one will lend me money.”

It seemed that Marianne was expecting this word _money_, coa.r.s.e but eloquent, in order to tell Vaudrey that an old friend, Claire Dujarrier, was on intimate terms with a certain Adolphe Gochard, who upon the endors.e.m.e.nt of a responsible person, would certainly advance a hundred thousand francs that he had at this moment lying idle. Gochard only needed a bill of exchange in his favor for one hundred thousand francs at three months' date, plus interest at five per cent. This Gochard was a very straightforward capitalist, who did not make it a business to lend money, but merely to oblige. It was Madame Dujarrier who had introduced him and Marianne would have already availed herself of his courtesy, if she had believed herself able to repay it at the appointed date.

”And where does this Monsieur Gochard live?” Vaudrey promptly asked.

”Oh! it would not be necessary for you to go to see him,” replied Marianne. ”On receipt of a bill of exchange from me, Madame Dujarrier would undertake to let me have a hundred thousand francs from hand to hand.”

”A hundred thousand francs!--In three months,” said Vaudrey to himself, ”in a vast placer like Paris, one can find many veins of gold.”

He had, besides, his personal property and land in Dauphiny. If need be, without Adrienne's even knowing it, he could mortgage his farms at Saint-Laurent-du-Pont!

”Monsieur de Rosas would not have hesitated. But in his case there would have been no merit,” said Mademoiselle Kayser.

At the name of that man, coupled with the recollection of him, Sulpice felt himself spurred to a decision. Clearly the great millionaire n.o.ble would not have delayed before s.n.a.t.c.hing this woman from the claws of her creditors. A hundred thousand francs, a mere trifle for the count! Well, Vaudrey would give it as the Spaniard would have done. He would find it.

Within three months, he would have put everything right; he did not know how, but that mattered little.

”Have you a pen, Marianne?”

The minister had not noticed the sheet of white paper that was lying on the blotting pad of Russia leather, among the satin finished envelopes and the ivory paper-cutters.

”What are you going to do, my friend?”

She pretended to put away the green, sharkskin penholder lying near the inkstand, but drew it imperceptibly nearer to Sulpice, who with a quick movement had already seated himself in front of the secretaire.

”A minister's signature is sufficient, I suppose?” he said with a smile.

He commenced to write.

”What did you say?--Gochard?--”

She was quite pale as she looked over Sulpice's shoulder and saw him rapidly write several lines on the paper, then she spelled:

”Adolphe Gochard--Go-go-c-h-ar-d.”

”There it is!” he said, as he handed her the sheet of paper.

”I wish to know what is thereon, or I would never consent.”

She took the paper between her fingers as if to tear it to pieces.

Sulpice prevented her.

”No,” he said, ”I request you to keep it; it is the best reply you can give to those people.--Rely on me!”

”Do you wish it?” asked Marianne, with a toss of her head, speaking in a very sweet voice.