"
"I am very wretched, sir," replied Albert to this avalanche of insults,
"and you would crush me!"
"You wretched! Well, whose fault is it? But let us get back to my
question. How and on what will you live?"
"I am not so romantic as you are pleased to say, sir. I must confess
that, as regards the future, I have counted upon your kindness. You are
so rich, that five hundred thousand francs would not materially affect
your fortune; and, on the interest of that sum, I could live quietly, if
not happily."
"And suppose I refuse you this money?"
"I know you well enough, sir, to feel sure that you will not do so. You
are too just to wish that I alone should expiate wrongs that are not of
my making. Left to myself, I should at my present age have achieved a
position. It is late for me to try and make one now; but I will do my
best."
"Superb!" interrupted the count; "you are really superb! One never heard
of such a hero of romance. What a character! But tell me, what do you
expect from all this astonishing disinterestedness?"
"Nothing, sir."
The count shrugged his shoulders, looked sarcastically at his son, and
observed: "The compensation is very slight.
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