For two years you haven't had the slightest cause of complaint against him; here he is second clerk, his uncle and Monsieur Moreau pay all expenses, and he earns, himself, a salary of eight hundred francs.
If we have bread to eat in our old age we may owe it all to that dear boy.

You are really too unjust--" "You call my foresight unjust, do you ?" replied the invalid, crossly.
Just then the bell rang loudly.

Madame Clapart ran to open the door, and remained in the outer room with Moreau, who had come to soften the blow which Oscar's new folly would deal to the heart of his poor mother.
"What! he gambled with the money of the office ?" she cried, bursting into tears.
"Didn't I tell you so, hey ?" said Clapart, appearing like a spectre at the door of the salon whither his curiosity had brought him.
"Oh! what shall we do with him ?" said Madame Clapart, whose grief made her impervious to Clapart's taunt.
"If he bore my name," replied Moreau, "I should wait composedly till he draws for the conscription, and if he gets a fatal number I should not provide him with a substitute.

This is the second time your son has committed a folly out of sheer vanity.

Well, vanity may inspire fine deeds in war and may advance him in the career of a soldier.