第73章

A GENTLEMAN IN DIFFICULTIES.

When Andre had got rid of the young man, and had been ushered into M.

Gandelu's presence, the change in the gentleman's appearance struck him with horror.His eyes were red and swollen as if he had been weeping, but as soon as he caught sight of Andre his face brightened, and he welcomed him warmly.

"Oh, it does me good to see you, and I bless the fortunate chance that has brought you here to-day.""It is not a very fortunate chance," answered Andre, as he shook his head sadly.

For the first time Gandelu noticed the air of gravity which marked the young man, and the shade of sorrow upon his brow.

"What ails you, Andre?" asked he.

"A great misfortune is hanging over me."

"What do you mean?"

"The naked truth and this misfortune may bring death and despair to me.""I am your friend, my dear boy," said the old man, "and would gladly be of service to you.Tell me if I can be of any use?""I come to you to-day to ask a favor at your hands.""And you thought of the old man, then? I thank you for doing so.Give me your hand; I like to feel the grasp of an honest man's hand; it warms my heart.""It is the secret of my life that I am going to confide to you," said he, with some solemnity.

M.Gandelu made no reply, but struck his clenched fist upon his breast, as though to show that any secret confided to him would be locked up in the safe security of his heart.

Then Andre hesitated no longer, and, with the exception of giving names, told the whole story of his love, his ambitions, and his hopes, and gave a clear account of how matters stood.

"How can I help you?" asked M.Gandelu.

"Allow me," said Andre, "to hand over the work with which you have intrusted me to one of my friends.I will retain the responsibility, but will merely act as one of the workmen.This, to a certain extent, will give me my liberty, while at the same time I shall be earning a little money, which is just now of vast importance to me.""Is that what you call a favor?"

"Certainly, and a very great one, too."

Gandelu rose hastily, and, opening an iron safe which stood in one corner of the room, and taking from it a bundle of banknotes, he placed them on the table before Andre with an expressive look, which meant, "Take what you desire."The unlooked-for kindness of this man, who forgot all his own sorrows in his anxiety to relieve the necessities of another, affected Andre deeply.

"I do not need money," began he.

With a wave of his hand Gandelu inspired silence."Take these twenty thousand francs," said he, "and then I can tell you why I asked you to come upstairs."A refusal would have wounded the old man deeply, and so Andre took the proffered loan.

Gandelu resumed his seat, and remained in gloomy silence for some time.

"My dear boy," said he, in a voice broken by emotion, "a day or two back you saw something of the trouble that I am laboring under.I have no longer any respect or esteem for that wretched fool, my son, Pierre."Andre had already guessed that he had been incensed with reference to something connected with Gaston.

"You son has behaved very foolishly," said he; "but remember he is very young."A sad smile passed over the old man's face.

"My son is old in vice," replied he."I have thought the matter over only too plainly.Yesterday he declared that he would kill himself.An absurd threat.Up to this time I have been culpably weak, and it is no use now to act in an opposite direction.The unhappy boy is infatuated with a degraded woman named Rose, and I have had her locked up; but Ihave made up my mind to let her out again, and also to pay his debts.

It is weak folly, I allow; but what am I to do? I am his father after all; and while I cannot respect her, I must love him.He has almost broken my heart, but it was his to do as he liked with."Andre made no reply, and Gandelu went on.