They say at Vilray that you have all you can do to keep
out of the Bankruptcy Court, and that--"
Jean Jacques started, flushed, and seemed about to get angry; but she put
things right at once.
"People talk more than they know, but there's always some fire where
there's smoke," she hastened to explain. "Besides, your father-in-law
babbles more than is good for him or for you. I thought at first that M.
Dolores was a first-class kind of man, that he had had hard times too,
and I let him come and see me; but I found him out, and that was the end
of it, you may be sure. If you like him, I don't want to say anything
more, but I'm sure that he's no real friend to you-or to anybody. If that
man went to confession--but there, that's not what I've come for. I've
come to say to you that I never felt so sorry for anyone in my life as I
do for you. I cried all night after your beautiful mill was burned down.
You were coming to see me next day--you remember what you said in M.
Fille's office--but of course you couldn't. Of course, there was no
reason why you should come to see me really--I've 'only got two hundred
acres and the house. It's a good house, though--Palass saw to that--and
it's insured; but still I know you'd have come just the same if I'd had
only two acres. I know. There's hosts of people you've been good to here,
and they're sorry for you; and I'm sorrier than any, for I'm alone, and
you're alone, too, except for the old Dolores, and he's no good to either
of us--mark my words, no good to you! I'm sorry for you, M'sieu' Jean
Jacques, and I've come to say that I'm ready to lend you two thousand
dollars, if that's any help.
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