°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > the brotherhood of consolation >

µÚ10ÕÂ

the brotherhood of consolation-µÚ10ÕÂ

С˵£º the brotherhood of consolation ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



Godefroid¡¡with¡¡a¡¡shrewd¡¡air£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡best¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡him¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡of¡¡a
fib¡£¡¨

¡¨'That¡¡is¡¡all¡¡I¡¡possess¡¡in¡¡the¡¡world£»'¡¡I¡¡said¡£¡¡'I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡waiting
for¡¡a¡¡fall¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Funds¡¡to¡¡invest¡¡that¡¡money£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡will¡¡put¡¡it¡¡in
your¡¡hands¡¡instead£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡shall¡¡consider¡¡me¡¡your¡¡partner£»¡¡I¡¡will
leave¡¡to¡¡your¡¡conscience¡¡the¡¡duty¡¡of¡¡returning¡¡it¡¡to¡¡me¡¡in¡¡due¡¡time¡£
The¡¡conscience¡¡of¡¡an¡¡honest¡¡man£»'¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡'is¡¡a¡¡better¡¡security¡¡than
the¡¡Funds¡£'¡¡Mongenod¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡me¡¡fixedly¡¡as¡¡I¡¡spoke£»¡¡and¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be
inlaying¡¡my¡¡words¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡heart¡£¡¡He¡¡put¡¡out¡¡his¡¡right¡¡hand£»¡¡I¡¡laid¡¡my
left¡¡into¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡held¡¡them¡¡together£»I¡¡deeply¡¡moved£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡with
two¡¡big¡¡tears¡¡rolling¡¡down¡¡his¡¡cheeks¡£¡¡The¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡those¡¡tears¡¡wrung
my¡¡heart¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡more¡¡moved¡¡still¡¡when¡¡Mongenod¡¡pulled¡¡out¡¡a¡¡ragged
foulard¡¡handkerchief¡¡to¡¡wipe¡¡them¡¡away¡£¡¡'Wait¡¡here£»'¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡and¡¡I
went¡¡to¡¡my¡¡secret¡¡hiding¡­place¡¡with¡¡a¡¡heart¡¡as¡¡agitated¡¡as¡¡though¡¡I
had¡¡heard¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡say¡¡she¡¡loved¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡came¡¡back¡¡with¡¡two¡¡rolls¡¡of
fifty¡¡louis¡¡each¡£¡¡'Here£»¡¡count¡¡them¡£'¡¡He¡¡would¡¡not¡¡count¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡he
looked¡¡about¡¡him¡¡for¡¡a¡¡desk¡¡on¡¡which¡¡to¡¡write£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡a¡¡proper
receipt¡£¡¡I¡¡positively¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡take¡¡any¡¡paper¡£¡¡'If¡¡I¡¡should¡¡die£»'¡¡I
said£»¡¡'my¡¡heirs¡¡would¡¡trouble¡¡you¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡between¡¡ourselves¡£'

¡¨Well£»¡¨¡¡continued¡¡Monsieur¡¡Alain£»¡¡smiling£»¡¡¡¨when¡¡Mongenod¡¡found¡¡me¡¡a
good¡¡friend¡¡he¡¡ceased¡¡to¡¡look¡¡as¡¡sad¡¡and¡¡anxious¡¡as¡¡when¡¡he¡¡entered£»
in¡¡fact£»¡¡he¡¡became¡¡quite¡¡gay¡£¡¡My¡¡housekeeper¡¡gave¡¡us¡¡some¡¡oysters£»
white¡¡wine£»¡¡and¡¡an¡¡omelet£»¡¡with¡¡broiled¡¡kidneys£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡remains¡¡of¡¡a
pate¡¡my¡¡old¡¡mother¡¡had¡¡sent¡¡me£»¡¡also¡¡some¡¡dessert£»¡¡coffee£»¡¡and¡¡liqueur
of¡¡the¡¡Iles¡£¡¡Mongenod£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡starving¡¡for¡¡two¡¡days£»¡¡was¡¡fed¡¡up¡£
We¡¡were¡¡so¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡talking¡¡about¡¡our¡¡life¡¡before¡¡the¡¡Revolution
that¡¡we¡¡sat¡¡at¡¡table¡¡till¡¡three¡¡in¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡£¡¡Mongenod¡¡told¡¡me¡¡how
he¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡his¡¡fortune¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡first¡¡place£»¡¡his¡¡father¡¡having
invested¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡part¡¡of¡¡his¡¡capital¡¡in¡¡city¡¡loans£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡fell
Mongenod¡¡lost¡¡two¡¡thirds¡¡of¡¡all¡¡he¡¡had¡£¡¡Then£»¡¡having¡¡sold¡¡his¡¡house¡¡in
the¡¡rue¡¡de¡¡Savoie£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡forced¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡the¡¡price¡¡in¡¡assignats¡£
After¡¡that¡¡he¡¡took¡¡into¡¡his¡¡head¡¡to¡¡found¡¡a¡¡newspaper£»¡¡'La
Sentinelle£»'¡¡that¡¡compelled¡¡him¡¡to¡¡fly¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡six¡¡months¡£¡¡His
hopes£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡were¡¡now¡¡fixed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡success¡¡of¡¡a¡¡comic¡¡opera¡¡called
'Les¡¡Peruviens¡£'¡¡When¡¡he¡¡said¡¡that¡¡I¡¡began¡¡to¡¡tremble¡£¡¡Mongenod¡¡turned
author£»¡¡wasting¡¡his¡¡money¡¡on¡¡a¡¡newspaper£»¡¡living¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡in¡¡the
theatres£»¡¡connected¡¡with¡¡singers¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Feydeau£»¡¡with¡¡musicians£»¡¡and
all¡¡the¡¡queer¡¡people¡¡who¡¡lurk¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡scenes£»to¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡the
truth£»¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡seem¡¡my¡¡Mongenod¡£¡¡I¡¡trembled¡£¡¡But¡¡how¡¡could¡¡I¡¡take
back¡¡the¡¡hundred¡¡louis£¿¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡each¡¡roll¡¡in¡¡each¡¡pocket¡¡of¡¡his¡¡breeches
like¡¡the¡¡barrels¡¡of¡¡two¡¡pistols¡£

¡¨Then£»¡¨¡¡continued¡¡Monsieur¡¡Alain£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡time¡¡he¡¡sighed£»¡¡¡¨Mongenod
went¡¡away¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡was¡¡alone£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡in¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡hard¡¡and
cruel¡¡poverty£»¡¡I¡¡began£»¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡myself£»¡¡to¡¡reflect¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡sobered¡£
'Mongenod£»'¡¡thought¡¡I£»¡¡'is¡¡perhaps¡¡thoroughly¡¡depraved£»¡¡he¡¡may¡¡have
been¡¡playing¡¡a¡¡comedy¡¡at¡¡my¡¡expense¡£'¡¡His¡¡gaiety£»¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡I¡¡had
handed¡¡over¡¡to¡¡him¡¡readily¡¡such¡¡a¡¡large¡¡sum¡¡of¡¡money£»¡¡struck¡¡me¡¡then
as¡¡being¡¡too¡¡like¡¡the¡¡joy¡¡of¡¡the¡¡valets¡¡on¡¡the¡¡stage¡¡when¡¡they¡¡catch¡¡a
Geronte¡£¡¡I¡¡ended£»¡¡where¡¡I¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡have¡¡begun£»¡¡by¡¡resolving¡¡to¡¡make
some¡¡investigations¡¡as¡¡to¡¡my¡¡friend¡¡Mongenod£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡given¡¡me¡¡his
address£»written¡¡on¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡a¡¡playing¡¡card£¡¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡choose£»¡¡as
a¡¡matter¡¡of¡¡delicacy£»¡¡to¡¡go¡¡and¡¡see¡¡him¡¡the¡¡next¡¡day£»¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have
thought¡¡there¡¡was¡¡distrust¡¡in¡¡such¡¡promptness£»¡¡as£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡there¡¡would
have¡¡been¡£¡¡The¡¡second¡¡day¡¡I¡¡had¡¡certain¡¡matters¡¡to¡¡attend¡¡to¡¡which
took¡¡all¡¡my¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡only¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡two¡¡weeks¡¡that£»¡¡not
seeing¡¡or¡¡hearing¡¡of¡¡Mongenod£»¡¡I¡¡went¡¡one¡¡morning¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Croix¡­
Rouge£»¡¡where¡¡I¡¡was¡¡then¡¡living£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡rue¡¡des¡¡Moineaux£»¡¡where¡¡he
lived¡£¡¡I¡¡found¡¡he¡¡was¡¡living¡¡in¡¡furnished¡¡lodgings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lowest
class£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡landlady¡¡was¡¡a¡¡very¡¡worthy¡¡woman£»¡¡the¡¡widow¡¡of¡¡a
magistrate¡¡who¡¡had¡¡died¡¡on¡¡the¡¡scaffold£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡utterly¡¡ruined¡¡by¡¡the
Revolution£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡only¡¡a¡¡few¡¡louis¡¡with¡¡which¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡the¡¡hazardous
trade¡¡of¡¡taking¡¡lodgers¡£¡¨

Here¡¡Monsieur¡¡Alain¡¡interrupted¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡explain¡£¡¡¡¨I¡¡knew¡¡her
later£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨she¡¡then¡¡had¡¡seven¡¡houses¡¡in¡¡Saint¡­Roch£»¡¡and¡¡was
making¡¡quite¡¡a¡¡little¡¡fortune¡£

¡¨'The¡¡citizen¡¡Mongenod¡¡is¡¡not¡¡at¡¡home£»'¡¡the¡¡landlady¡¡said¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡'but
there¡¡is¡¡some¡¡one¡¡there¡£'¡¡This¡¡remark¡¡excited¡¡my¡¡curiosity¡£¡¡I¡¡went¡¡up
to¡¡the¡¡fifth¡¡story¡£¡¡A¡¡charming¡¡person¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡door£»oh£»¡¡such¡¡a
pretty¡¡young¡¡woman£¡¡¡who¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡me¡¡rather¡¡suspiciously¡¡and¡¡kept¡¡the
door¡¡half¡¡closed¡£¡¡'I¡¡am¡¡Alain£»¡¡a¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡Mongenod's£»'¡¡I¡¡said¡£
Instantly¡¡the¡¡door¡¡opened¡¡wide£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡entered¡¡a¡¡miserable¡¡garret£»
which¡¡was£»¡¡nevertheless£»¡¡kept¡¡with¡¡the¡¡utmost¡¡neatness¡£¡¡The¡¡pretty
young¡¡woman¡¡offered¡¡me¡¡a¡¡chair¡¡before¡¡a¡¡fireplace¡¡where¡¡were¡¡ashes¡¡but
no¡¡fire£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡which¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡common¡¡earthen¡¡foot¡­warmer¡£
'It¡¡makes¡¡me¡¡very¡¡happy£»¡¡monsieur£»'¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡taking¡¡my¡¡hand¡¡and
pressing¡¡it¡¡affectionately£»¡¡'to¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡express¡¡to¡¡you¡¡my
gratitude¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡indeed¡¡saved¡¡us¡£¡¡Were¡¡it¡¡not¡¡for¡¡you¡¡I¡¡might¡¡never
have¡¡seen¡¡Mongenod¡¡again¡£¡¡He¡¡might£»yes£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡thrown¡¡himself
in¡¡the¡¡river¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡desperate¡¡when¡¡he¡¡left¡¡me¡¡to¡¡go¡¡and¡¡see¡¡you¡£'¡¡On
examining¡¡this¡¡person¡¡I¡¡was¡¡surprised¡¡to¡¡see¡¡her¡¡head¡¡tied¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a
foulard£»¡¡and¡¡along¡¡the¡¡temples¡¡a¡¡curious¡¡dark¡¡line£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡presently
saw¡¡that¡¡her¡¡head¡¡was¡¡shaved¡£¡¡'Have¡¡you¡¡been¡¡ill£¿'¡¡I¡¡asked£»¡¡as¡¡I
noticed¡¡this¡¡singularity¡£¡¡She¡¡cast¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡at¡¡a¡¡broken¡¡mirror¡¡in¡¡a
shabby¡¡frame¡¡and¡¡colored£»¡¡then¡¡the¡¡tears¡¡came¡¡into¡¡her¡¡eyes¡£¡¡'Yes£»
monsieur£»'¡¡she¡¡said£»¡¡'I¡¡had¡¡horrible¡¡headaches£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡obliged¡¡to
have¡¡my¡¡hair¡¡cut¡¡off£»¡¡it¡¡came¡¡to¡¡my¡¡feet¡£'¡¡'Am¡¡I¡¡speaking¡¡to¡¡Madame
Mongenod£¿'¡¡I¡¡asked¡£¡¡'Yes£»¡¡monsieur£»'¡¡she¡¡answered£»¡¡giving¡¡me¡¡a¡¡truly
celestial¡¡look¡£¡¡I¡¡bowed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡little¡¡woman¡¡and¡¡went¡¡away£»
intending¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡landlady¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡something¡¡about¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡she
was¡¡out¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡certain¡¡that¡¡poor¡¡young¡¡woman¡¡had¡¡sold¡¡her¡¡hair¡¡to¡¡buy
bread¡£¡¡I¡¡went¡¡from¡¡there¡¡to¡¡a¡¡wood¡¡merchant¡¡and¡¡ordered¡¡half¡¡a¡¡cord¡¡of
wood£»¡¡telling¡¡the¡¡cartman¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sawyer¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡bill£»¡¡which¡¡I
made¡¡the¡¡dealer¡¡receipt¡¡to¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡citizen¡¡Mongenod£»¡¡and¡¡give¡¡it
to¡¡the¡¡little¡¡woman¡£

¡¨There¡¡ends¡¡the¡¡period¡¡of¡¡what¡¡I¡¡long¡¡called¡¡/my¡¡foolishness/£»¡¨¡¡said
Monsieur¡¡Alain£»¡¡clasping¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡lifting¡¡them¡¡with¡¡a¡¡look¡¡of
repentance¡£

Godefroid¡¡could¡¡not¡¡help¡¡smiling¡£¡¡He¡¡was£»¡¡as¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡see£»¡¡greatly
mistaken¡¡in¡¡that¡¡smile¡£

¡¨Two¡¡days¡¡later£»¡¨¡¡resumed¡¡the¡¡worthy¡¡man£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡met¡¡one¡¡of¡¡those¡¡men¡¡who
are¡¡neither¡¡friends¡¡nor¡¡strangers£»¡¡with¡¡whom¡¡we¡¡have¡¡relations¡¡from
time¡¡to¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡call¡¡acquaintances£»a¡¡certain¡¡Monsieur¡¡Barillaud£»
who¡¡remarked¡¡accidentally£»¡¡/a¡¡propos/¡¡of¡¡the¡¡'Peruviens£»'¡¡that¡¡the
author¡¡was¡¡a¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡his¡£¡¡'Then¡¡you¡¡know¡¡citizen¡¡Mongenod£¿'¡¡I¡¡said¡£

¡¨In¡¡those¡¡days¡¡we¡¡were¡¡obliged¡¡by¡¡law¡¡to¡¡call¡¡each¡¡other¡¡'citizen£»'¡¨
said¡¡Monsieur¡¡Alain¡¡to¡¡Godefroid£»¡¡by¡¡way¡¡of¡¡parenthesis¡£¡¡Then¡¡he
continued¡¡his¡¡narrative£º

¡¨The¡¡citizen¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡me£»¡¡exclaiming£»¡¡'I¡¡wish¡¡I¡¡never¡¡had¡¡known¡¡him£»
for¡¡he¡¡has¡¡several¡¡times¡¡borrowed¡¡money¡¡of¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡shown¡¡his
friendship¡¡by¡¡not¡¡returning¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡a¡¡queer¡¡fellow£»good¡­hearted
and¡¡all¡¡that£»¡¡but¡¡full¡¡of¡¡illusions£¡¡¡always¡¡an¡¡imagination¡¡on¡¡fire£¡¡¡I
will¡¡do¡¡him¡¡this¡¡justice£»he¡¡does¡¡not¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡deceive£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡he
deceives¡¡himself¡¡about¡¡everything£»¡¡he¡¡manages¡¡to¡¡behave¡¡like¡¡a
dishonest¡¡man¡£'¡¡'How¡¡much¡¡does¡¡he¡¡owe¡¡you£¿'¡¡I¡¡asked¡£¡¡'Oh£¡¡¡a¡¡good¡¡many
hundred¡¡francs¡£¡¡He's¡¡a¡¡basket¡¡with¡¡a¡¡hole¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bottom¡£¡¡Nobody¡¡knows
where¡¡his¡¡money¡¡goes£»¡¡perhaps¡¡he¡¡doesn't¡¡know¡¡himself¡£'¡¡'Has¡¡he¡¡any
resources£¿'¡¡'Well£»¡¡yes£»'¡¡said¡¡Barillaud£»¡¡laughing£»¡¡'just¡¡now¡¡he¡¡is
talking¡¡of¡¡buying¡¡land¡¡among¡¡the¡¡savages¡¡in¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡£'¡¡I
carried¡¡away¡¡with¡¡me¡¡the¡¡drop¡¡of¡¡vinegar¡¡which¡¡casual¡¡gossip¡¡thus¡¡put
into¡¡my¡¡heart£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡soured¡¡all¡¡my¡¡feelings¡£¡¡I¡¡went¡¡to¡¡see¡¡my¡¡old
master£»¡¡in¡¡whose¡¡office¡¡Mongenod¡¡and¡¡I¡¡had¡¡studied¡¡law£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡now¡¡my
counsel¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡told¡¡him¡¡about¡¡my¡¡loan¡¡to¡¡Mongenod¡¡and¡¡the¡¡manner¡¡in
which¡¡I¡¡had¡¡acted£»'What£¡'¡¡he¡¡cried£»¡¡'one¡¡of¡¡my¡¡old¡¡clerks¡¡to¡¡behave
in¡¡that¡¡way£¡¡¡You¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡have¡¡put¡¡him¡¡off¡¡till¡¡the¡¡next¡¡day¡¡and¡¡come
to¡¡see¡¡me¡£¡¡You¡¡would¡¡then¡¡have¡¡found¡¡out¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡forbidden¡¡my
clerks¡¡to¡¡let¡¡Mongenod¡¡into¡¡this¡¡office¡£¡¡Within¡¡the¡¡last¡¡year¡¡he¡¡has
borrowed¡¡three¡¡hundred¡¡francs¡¡of¡¡me¡¡in¡¡silver£»an¡¡enormous¡¡sum¡¡at
present¡¡rates¡£¡¡Three¡¡days¡¡before¡¡he¡¡breakfasted¡¡with¡¡you¡¡I¡¡met¡¡him¡¡on
the¡¡street£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡gave¡¡such¡¡a¡¡piteous¡¡account¡¡of¡¡his¡¡poverty¡¡that¡¡I
let¡¡him¡¡have¡¡two¡¡louis¡£'¡¡'If¡¡I¡¡have¡¡been¡¡the¡¡dupe¡¡of¡¡a¡¡clever
comedian£»'¡¡I¡¡said¡¡to¡¡Bordin£»¡¡'so¡¡much¡¡the¡¡worse¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡not¡¡for¡¡me¡£
But¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡£'¡¡'You¡¡must¡¡try¡¡to¡¡get¡¡from¡¡him¡¡a¡¡written
acknowledgment£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡debtor£»¡¡however£»¡¡insolvent¡¡he¡¡may¡¡be£»¡¡may¡¡become
solvent£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡he¡¡will¡¡pay¡£'¡¡Thereupon¡¡Bordin¡¡took¡¡from¡¡a¡¡tin¡¡box¡¡a
case¡¡on¡¡which¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡Mongenod£»¡¡he¡¡showed¡¡me¡¡three¡¡receipts
of¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡francs¡¡each¡£¡¡'The¡¡next¡¡time¡¡he¡¡comes¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡have¡¡him
admitted£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡make¡¡him¡¡add¡¡the¡¡interest¡¡and¡¡the¡¡two¡¡louis£»¡¡and
give¡¡me¡¡a¡¡note¡¡for¡¡the¡¡whole¡£¡¡I¡¡shall£»¡¡at¡¡any¡¡rate£»¡¡have¡¡things
properly¡¡done£»¡¡and¡¡be¡¡in¡¡a¡¡position¡¡to¡¡obtain¡¡payment¡£'¡¡'Well£»'¡¡said¡¡I
to¡¡Bordin£»¡¡'can¡¡you¡¡have¡¡my¡¡matter¡¡set¡¡right¡¡so¡¡far£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡yours£¿
for¡¡I¡¡know¡¡you¡¡are¡¡a¡¡good¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡what¡¡you¡¡do¡¡will¡¡be¡¡right¡£'¡¡'I¡¡have
remained¡¡master¡¡of¡¡my¡¡ground£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'but¡¡when¡¡persons¡¡behave¡¡as
you¡¡have¡¡done¡¡they¡¡are¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mercy¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man¡¡who¡¡can¡¡snap¡¡his¡¡fingers
at¡¡them¡£¡¡As¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡choose¡¡that¡¡any¡¡man¡¡should¡¡get¡¡the¡¡better
of¡¡me£»get¡¡the¡¡better¡¡of¡¡a¡¡former¡¡attorney¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Chatelet£¡ta¡­ra¡­
ra£¡¡¡Every¡¡man¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡a¡¡sum¡¡of¡¡money¡¡is¡¡lent¡¡as¡¡heedlessly¡¡as¡¡you¡¡lent
yours¡¡to¡¡Mongenod£»¡¡ends£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡time£»¡¡by¡¡thinking¡¡that¡¡money
his¡¡own¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡your¡¡money£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡/his/¡¡money£»¡¡you¡¡become¡¡his
creditor£»an¡¡inconvenient£»¡¡unpleasant¡¡person¡£¡¡A¡¡debtor¡¡will¡¡then¡¡try
to¡¡get¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡you¡¡by¡¡some¡¡juggling¡¡with¡¡his¡¡conscience£»¡¡and¡¡out¡¡of¡¡one
hundred¡¡men¡¡in¡¡his¡¡position£»¡¡seventy¡­five¡¡will¡¡do¡¡their¡¡best¡¡never¡¡to
see¡¡or¡¡hear¡¡of¡¡you¡¡again¡£'¡¡'Then¡¡you¡¡think¡¡only¡¡twenty¡­five¡¡men¡¡in¡¡a
hundred¡¡are¡¡honest£¿'¡¡'Did¡¡I¡¡say¡¡that£¿'¡¡he¡¡replied£»¡¡smiling
maliciously¡£¡¡'The¡¡estimate¡¡is¡¡too¡¡high£¿'¡¨

Monsieur¡¡Alain¡¡paused¡¡to¡¡put¡¡the¡¡fire¡¡together£»¡¡that¡¡done£»¡¡he
resumed£º

¡¨Two¡¡weeks¡¡later¡¡I¡¡received¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡from¡¡Bordin¡¡asking¡¡me¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to
his¡¡office¡¡and¡¡get¡¡my¡¡receipt¡£¡¡I¡¡went¡£¡¡'I¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡get¡¡fifty¡¡of¡¡your
louis¡¡for¡¡you£»'¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡'but¡¡the¡¡birds¡¡had¡¡flown¡£¡¡Say¡¡good¡­by¡¡to¡¡your
yellow¡¡boys£»¡¡those¡¡pretty¡¡canaries¡¡are¡¡off¡¡to¡¡other¡¡climes¡£¡¡You¡¡have
had¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sharper£»¡¡that's¡¡what¡¡he¡¡is¡£¡¡He¡¡declared¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that
his¡¡wife¡¡and¡¡father¡­in¡­law¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡the¡¡United¡¡States¡¡with¡¡sixty¡¡of
your¡¡louis¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡land£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡follow£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡purpose£»
he¡¡said£»¡¡of¡¡making¡¡a¡¡fortune¡¡and¡¡paying¡¡his¡¡debts£»¡¡the¡¡amount¡¡of
which£»¡¡carefully¡¡drawn¡¡up£»¡¡he¡¡confided¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡requesting¡¡me¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡an
eye¡¡on¡¡what¡¡became¡¡of¡¡his¡¡creditors¡£¡¡Here¡¡is¡¡a¡¡list¡¡of¡¡the¡¡items£»'
continued¡¡Bordin£»¡¡showing¡¡me¡¡a¡¡paper¡¡from¡¡which¡¡he¡¡read¡¡the¡¡total£»
'Seventeen¡¡thousand¡¡francs¡¡in¡¡coin£»¡¡a¡¡sum¡¡with¡¡which¡¡a¡¡house¡¡could¡¡be
bought¡¡that¡¡would¡¡bring¡¡in¡¡two¡¡thousand¡¡francs¡¡a¡¡year¡£'¡¡After
replacing¡¡the¡¡list¡¡in¡¡the¡¡case£»¡¡Bordin¡¡gave¡¡me¡¡a¡¡note¡¡for¡¡a¡¡sum
equivalent¡¡to¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡louis¡¡in¡¡gold£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡letter¡¡in

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ