Do you know the end of them?
At the end of ten years--I give them no longer--nine out of ten die of starvation and disappointment, and the other joins the criminal army." Paul had often repeated this to himself, and could, therefore, make no reply.
"But," went on Mascarin, "you did not leave Poitiers alone; you carried off with you a young girl named Rose Pigoreau." "Pray, let me explain." "It would be useless.

The fact speaks for itself.

In six months your little store had disappeared; then came poverty and starvation, and at last, in the Hotel de Perou, your thoughts turned to suicide, and you were only saved by my old friend Tantaine." Paul felt his temper rising, for these plain truths were hard to bear; but fear lest he should lose his protector kept him silent.
"I admit everything, sir," said he calmly.

"I was a fool, and almost mad, but experience has taught me a bitter lesson.

I am here to-day, and this fact should tell you that I have given up all my vain hallucinations." "Will you give up Rose Pigoreau ?" As this abrupt question was put to him, Paul turned pale with anger.
"I love Rose," answered he coldly; "she believes in me, and has shared my troubles with courage, and one day she shall be my wife." Raising his velvet cap from his head, Mascarin bowed with an ironical air, saying, "Is that so?
Then I beg a thousand pardons.