francs, his bills receivable up to the 5th to 4,000 or 5,000, which, making the best of everything, gave him 14,000.

francs to meet debts amounting to 287,500 francs.

He had not even the means for making a possible settlement on account.

However, when Morrel went down to his dinner, he appeared very calm.

This calmness was more alarming to the two women than the deepest dejection would have been.