Capital fellows are they, always in low water when you are in
funds, always off to some watering-place when you go to look them up,
always with some bad bargain in horse-flesh to sell you; it is true,
that when you want to borrow of them, they have always just lost their
last louis at play; but in all other respects they are the best
fellows on earth, always ready to embark with you on one of the steep
down-grades where you lose your time, your soul, and your life!
At length M. de Nueil received a missive through the instrumentality
of Jacques, a letter that bore the arms of Burgundy on the scented
seal, a letter written on vellum notepaper.
He rushed away at once to lock himself in, and read and re-read /her/
letter:--
"You are punishing me very severely, monsieur, both for the
friendliness of my effort to spare you a rebuff, and for the
attraction which intellect always has for me. I put confidence in
the generosity of youth, and you have disappointed me. And yet, if
I did not speak unreservedly (which would have been perfectly
ridiculous), at any rate I spoke frankly of my position, so that
you might imagine that I was not to be touched by a young soul. My
distress is the keener for my interest in you. I am naturally
tender-hearted and kindly, but circumstances force me to act
unkindly.
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