Thetemptertookoutapocketbook，anddrewthencethreebanknotes，whichheflutteredbeforethestudent’seyes。Eugenewasinamostpainfuldilemma。Hehaddebts，debtsofhonor。HeowedahundredlouistotheMarquisd’AjudaandtotheCountdeTrailles；hehadnotthemoney，andforthisreasonhadnotdaredtogotoMme。deRestaud’shouse，wherehewasexpectedthatevening。Itwasoneofthoseinformalgatheringswhereteaandlittlecakesarehandedround，butwhereitispossibletolosesixthousandfrancsatwhistinthecourseofanight。
“Youmustsee。”saidEugene，strugglingtohideaconvulsivetremor，“thatafterwhathaspassedbetweenus，Icannotpossiblylaymyselfunderanyobligationtoyou。”
“Quiteright；Ishouldbesorrytohearyouspeakotherwise。”
answeredthetempter。“Youareafineyoungfellow，honorable，braveasalion，andasgentleasayounggirl。Youwouldbeafinehaulforthedevil！Ilikeyoungstersofyoursort。Getridofoneortwomoreprejudices，andyouwillseetheworldasitis。Makealittlescenenowandthen，andactavirtuouspartinit，andamanwithaheadonhisshoulderscandoexactlyashelikesamiddeafeningapplausefromthefoolsinthegallery。Ah！
afewdaysyet，andyouwillbewithus；andifyouwouldonlybetutoredbyme，Iwouldputyouinthewayofachievingallyourambitions。Youshouldnosoonerformawishthanitshouldberealizedtothefull；youshouldhaveallyourdesires——honors，wealth，orwomen。Civilizationshouldflowwithmilkandhoneyforyou。Youshouldbeourpetandfavorite，ourBenjamin。Wewouldallworkourselvestodeathforyouwithpleasure；everyobstacleshouldberemovedfromyourpath。Youhaveafewprejudicesleft；soyouthinkthatIamascoundrel，doyou？