"The governor seems to be going in for infanticide." Andre did not allow him to finish the sentence, for, grasping the young man's wrist, he whispered fiercely, "Not another word; silence!" "But I want to know what it all means ?" answered the irrepressible youth.
"I had in my hands," said the old man, addressing Andre, and ignoring the presence of his son, "the important paper he had copied.

Yes; not more than an hour ago I read it.

These were the terms: if I died within eight days from the date of signature, my son agreed to pay a bonus of thirty thousand francs; but if I lived for one month, he would take up the bill by paying one hundred and fifty thousand.

If, however, by any unforeseen chance, I should recover entirely, he bound himself to pay Clergot the hundred thousand francs." The old man tore the cravat from his swelling throat, and wiped the beads of cold sweat that bedewed his brow.
"When this man recovers his self-command," thought Andre, "he will never forgive me for having been the involuntary listener to this terrible tale." But in this Andre was mistaken, for unsophisticated nature requires sympathy, and Nichols Gandelu would have said the same to the first comer.
"Before, however, delivering the hundred thousand francs, the usurer wished to make himself more secure, and asked for a certificate from some one who had seen me.

This person was his friend.