He stood in such terror of David’s perspicacity, that he locked himself into his pretty new study until he could recover himself, his head was swimming in this new position.  So he must leave the rooms just furnished for him at such a cost, and all the sacrifices that had been made for him had been made in vain.  Then it occurred to Lucien that his mother might take the rooms and save David the heavy expense of building at the end of the yard, as he had meant to do; his departure would be, in fact, a convenience to the family.  He discovered any quantity of urgent reasons for his sudden flight; for there is no such Jesuit as the desire of your heart.  He hurried down at once to tell the news to his sister in L’Houmeau and to take counsel with her.  As he reached Postel’s shop, he bethought himself that if all other means failed, he could borrow enough to live upon for a year from his father’s successor.

“Three francs per day will be abundance for me if I live with Louise,” he thought; “it is only a thousand francs for a whole year.  And in six months’ time I shall have plenty of money.”

Then, under seal and promise of secrecy, Eve and her mother heard Lucien’s confidences.  Both the women began to cry as they heard of the ambitious plans; and when he asked the reason of their trouble, they told him that every penny they possessed had been spent on table-linen, house-linen, Eve’s wedding clothes, and on a host of things that David had overlooked.  They had been so glad to do this, for David had made a marriage-settlement of ten thousand francs on Eve.  Lucien then spoke of his idea of a loan, and Mme. Chardon undertook to ask M. Postel to lend them a thousand francs for a twelve-month.

“But, Lucien,” said Eve, as a thought clutched at her heart, “you will not be here at my wedding!  Oh! come back, I will put it off for a few days.  Surely she will give you leave to come back in a fortnight, if only you go with her now?  Surely, she would spare you to us for a week, Lucien, when we brought you up for her?  We shall have no luck if you are not at the wedding. . . .  But will a thousand francs be enough for you?” she asked, suddenly interrupting herself.  “Your coat suits you divinely, but you have only that one!  You have only two fine shirts, the other six are coarse linen; and three of your white ties are just common muslin, there are only two lawn cravats, and your pocket-handkerchiefs are not good ones.  Where will you find a sister in Paris who will get up your linen in one day as you want it?  You will want ever so much more.  Then you have just the one pair of new nankeen trousers, last year’s trousers are tight for you; you will be obliged to have clothes made in Paris, and Paris prices are not like Angouleme prices.  You have only two presentable white waistcoats; I have mended the others already.  Come, I advise you to take two thousand francs.”

David came in as she spoke, and apparently heard the last two words, for he looked at the brother and sister and said nothing.