"Your husband hasn't common sense," said Grandet as he lent Madame des

Grassins some money on a note securely endorsed. "I am very sorry for

you, for you are a good little woman."

"Ah, monsieur," said the poor lady, "who could have believed that when

he left Saumur to go to Paris on your business he was going to his

"Heaven is my witness, madame, that up to the last moment I did all I

could to prevent him from going. Monsieur le president was most

anxious to take his place; but he was determined to go, and now we all