Ah! yes, we are mistaken; there was left the paternal strong box.

He employed a mode of proceeding, upon which he preserved the most profound secrecy, and which consisted in advancing to himself, from the coffers of the syndic, half a dozen year's profits, that is to say, fifteen thousand livres, swearing to himself--observe, quite to himself--to repay this deficiency as soon as an opportunity should present itself.

The opportunity was expected to be the concession of a good post in the household of Monsieur, when that household would be established at the period of his marriage.

This juncture had arrived, and the household was about to be established.

A good post in the family of a prince of the blood, when it is given by the credit, and on the recommendation of a friend, like the Comte de Guiche, is worth at least twelve thousand livres _per annum_; and by the means which M.Malicorne had taken to make his revenues fructify, twelve thousand livres might rise to twenty thousand.