At last he said, bluntly and manfully, "My dear Frederic, your world and mine are not and cannot be the same.

Why should I be ashamed to own to my old schoolfellow that I am poor,--very poor; that the dinner I have shared with you to-day is to me a criminal extravagance?
I lodge in a single chamber on the fourth-story; I dine off a single plat at a small restaurateur's; the utmost income I can allow to myself does not exceed five thousand francs a year: my fortunes I cannot hope much to improve.

In his own country Alain de Rochebriant has no career." Lemercier was so astonished by this confession that he remained for some moments silent, eyes and mouth both wide open; at length he sprang up, embraced his friend well-nigh sobbing, and exclaimed, "'Tant mieux pour moi!' You must take your lodging with me.

I have a charming bedroom to spare.

Don't say no.
It will raise my own position to say 'I and Rochebriant keep house together.' It must be so.