"
The advocate began to remonstrate. He certainly did not refuse to pay,
only he thought he ought to be consulted when any purchases were made.
He didn't like this way of disposing of his money.
"What a fellow!" said the usurer, shrugging his shoulders; "do you want
to make the girl unhappy for nothing at all? She won't let you off yet,
my friend. You may be quite sure she will eat up your new fortune also.
And you know, if you need any money for the wedding, you have but to
give me some guarantee. Procure me an introduction to the notary, and
everything shall be arranged. But I must go. On Monday then."
Noel listened, to make sure that the usurer had actually gone. When he
heard him descending the staircase, "Scoundrel!" he cried, "miserable
thieving old skinflint! Didn't he need a lot of persuading? He had quite
made up his mind to sue me. It would have been a pleasant thing had
the count come to hear of it. Vile usurer! I was afraid, one moment, of
being obliged to tell him all."
While inveighing thus against the money-lender, the advocate looked at
his watch.
"Half-past five already," he said.
His indecision was great.
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