THE MATAPAN AFFAIR.
23

head to do me or any of my friends an injury, I have him
in my power."
" But look; Mademoiselle Llia has seen us. She retires
to the recesses of her carriage, and the horse quickens his
pace. Monsieur Bourleroy must also have perceived us, for he
moves away. Let us turn back, my good fellow, I have had
enough of the Bourleroys," said Courtaumer, taking the arm
of his friend who very willingly acceded to the request.
They walked on for some time in silence. Courtaumer was
not yet consoled for his losses, and his melancholy was in-
creased by the thought of the tiresome evening he was to pass
at his aunt's.
The mind of Doutrelaise was engrossed by the strange
adventure of the previous night, and he was wondering if he
should not relate the whole affair to the friend he usually
consulted in all his difficulties.
" You seem to have met quite a number of people this
morning," he remarked,  after a long silence.    " Did you
happen to run against Julien de la Calprende anywhere?"
" Julien de la Calprende?" repeated Courtaumer.   "No;
I have not seen him.    I suppose he is still in bed, as he is
not in the habit of retiring before sunrise; and as I have not
called at his house, I have not seen him to-day."
"Did you see him at the club last night?"
"Yes, I believe he was there.    I was so engrossed in the
game that I did not notice him particularly, but it does seem
to me I saw him hanging around the baccarat table as a half-
famished person hangs about a well-filled buffet.    He must
be terribly hard up."
" I am afraid so. But tell me, was he at the club when
you arrived there? You went straight to the club-house
after leaving me, did you not?"
" Yes, and almost on the run; I fancied I should be lucky
last night.    It was a delusion that cost me dear."
"And was young Calprende there before you?"
"No; he did not come in until some time afterward; at
least, I think not, for I did not see him on entering the red
salon at half past twelve, and there did not seem to be any
one in the other rooms.    The playing did not begin until
two o'clock.    But why do you ask me all these questions?"
" Because the poor fellow wrote to ask a favor of me this
morning."
"Money, I suppose?"
"Yes, he too has lostnot so much as you, of course."
" If he had, I do not think there would be much hope for
his creditors."
" He has but one, but it would be much better for him if
he had a dozen like yourself.    Unfortunately, he owes Mon-
sieur Bourleroy six thousand francs."
" Llia's protector?"
"No; the father does not play. It was the son who won
it from him at cart, on credit, of course."
" Then I pity your young friend. Everybody will know
that he does not pay his debts. The lovely Anatole will
proclaim the fact from the housetops. I would wager any-
thing that he was telling his friends at breakfast this morn-
ing."
"I only wish I had been there," muttered Doutrelaise.
"So you could have pulled his ears, eh? I should not
have objected to doing it myself, but I had no right to
undertake the defense of a youth I scarcely knew. Besides,
Bourleroy will soon be obliged to hold his tongue, as he will
get his money, for I know yon. You have already loaned
young Calprende the six thousand francs."
" No, but I was about to do so when Julien, who was
breakfasting with me at the Caf de la Paix, abruptly de-
parted."
" Without accepting the money?   He must be mad?"
"No; I suppose he did not wish to receive it in the pres-
ence of Monsieur Matapan, who had come in and who seated
himself beside me without asking permission to do so."
"Just as my pirate did by me a moment ago. I am not
surprised at their friendship. One seems as ill bred as the
other. But I know why Julien hurried off. He must have
borrowed from Monsieur Matapan a sum which he cannot re-
pay, and his landlord's presence was not welcome at a moment
when he was receiving money which he did not wish to hand
over to him."
"The same thought occurred to me, and as soon as Mata-
pan took himself off, I ran after Julien; but though I went to
the club and sent to his father's house, he was nowhere to be
found."
" Bah, he will turn up."
"I fear his mind is scarcely right. His situation is so com-
promising that------"
" That you fancy he has thrown himself into the Seine, and
all for some trifling debts his father will pay sooner or later.
Nonsense! I do not believe that. If he had committed any
disgraceful action, it would be entirely different; but that is
impossible.    He bears a name that would prevent that."
Doutrelaise made no reply. Courtaumer had unconsciously
placed his finger on the wound. Now or never he must relate
the history of the necklace, and ask him what he thought of
it: but Doutrelaise hesitated. Had he any right to consult
his friend in a matter affecting Julien's honor? He was al-
ready almost sorry that he had said so much. Courtaumer
was not M. Matapan, but Courtaumer was not always dis-
creet.
"You seem to take a great interest in this hare-brained
fellow," he was remarking even now. "I did not know you
were so intimate with him."
" Intimate is not the word, but------"
" Come, confess that it is on the sister's account."
" I have already begged you to say no more on that subject.
Mademoiselle de la Calprende is not the cause of it, and yet
yon will persist in harping upon that theme."
"I have a reason, and a very good reason, for referring to
the subject to-day."
"What?" inquired Doutrelaise, greatly astonished.
" Would you like to know?   Then prepare to be surprised.
My aunt has taken it into her head to marry me to that young
lady.    Ah! you are turning green with jealousy.    So I was
right, you do love her."
"You marry her?   Why, you scarcely know her."
"That does not matter.    Answer me now, truthfully, do
you love her or not?"
"And if I say that I do not,, shall you marry her?"
" If you tell me that you do not, I cannot say what I shall
do; but if you answer in the affirmative, I shall tell my aunt
that nothing will induce me to interfere with my best friend."
" And I forbid you to mention my name in this connec-
tion," was Albert's quick response. "No one suspects that
Mademoiselle de la Calprende has inspired me with a senti-
ment which------"
" Well, you have made a confession at last, and you are
wise, for I might have indulged in a flirtation with Made-
moiselle Ariette who is charming. Now, you need have no
fears, I will not even look at her, at least, not until she is
Madame Doutrelaise, for I intend you to marry her, and you
shall marry her. I shall do all I can to bring it about."
" But you can do nothing."
"How do you know? The father is the friend of my aunt,
Madame de Vervins, who is an excellent woman. I will per-
suade her to plead your cause."
"No, Jacques, pray do not speak of me to her. You would
only do me an injury by trying to serve me. Later, perhaps
but the time has not yet come."
" Just as you say, my dear fellow. I will content myself
with leaving the coast clear then. You can depend upon it
that I shall inform my aunt this evening of my firm resolve
to remain a bachelor to the end of my days."
" And now this question is settled, shall we make the tour
of the Bois and return to the club in time for dinner?"
" No, I have business.    I am compelled to leave you now."
" To run after your future brother-in-law?"
" Jacques, you are incorrigible."
" Start off, my good fellow, in pursuit of this strange Julien
who flees when one wishes to do him a favor. It is certainly
an exception to the general rule, for it is not usually the
loaner who pursues the borrower. I shall see you again soon,
for I am certain that I shall find him."
" Then do me the favor to tell him that I am looking for
him."
" Not another word.    Here is his father."
" His father?"
" Yes, the Count de la Calprende in person. He is coming
straight toward us. He has seen us and seems desirous of
speaking to us. There is no way to avoid it. Besides, 1 am
not sorry to know what he can have to say to us."
The Count was indeed approaching with a hurried step.
" He does not appear to be in very good humor," murmured
Courtaumer.    " Can it be that he has heard of any new es-
capade on the part of his son?"
Doutrelaise, upon whose arm his friend was leaning, gently
disengaged himself.    He saw very plainly that there was a

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