But Daniel said, shrugging his shoulders,—­

“I do not understand why you should hesitate to undertake so simple a thing, when you have already consented to render me so signal and so difficult a service.”

So simple!  M. de Brevan did not look upon it in that light.

A nervous shiver, which he could hardly conceal, ran down his backbone; drops of perspiration broke out on his temples; and he turned deadly pale.

“Fifty thousand dollars!  That is an enormous sum.”

“Oh, yes!” replied Daniel in the most careless manner.

And, looking at the clock, he added,—­

“Half-past three.  Come, Maxime, be quick.  My carriage is waiting.  The notary expects us between three and four o’clock.”

This notary was an exceptional man.  He took an interest in the affairs of his clients, and sometimes even listened to hear their explanations.  When Daniel had told him what he intended doing, he replied,—­

“You have nothing to do, M. Champcey, but to give M. de Brevan a power-of-attorney in proper form.”

“Would it be possible,” asked Daniel, “to have it drawn up at once?”

“Why not?  It can be recorded this evening; and to-morrow”—­

“Well, then, lose no time.”

The notary called his chief clerk, gave him briefly his instructions, then, making a sign to Daniel, he drew him into a kind of recess resembling an enormous cupboard, adjoining his office, in which he “confessed” his clients, as he called it.  When they were there, he said,—­

“How is it, M. Champcey, do you really owe this M. de Brevan so much money?”

“Not a cent.”

“And you leave your entire fortune thus in his hands!  You must have marvellous confidence in the man.”

“As much as in myself.”

“That is a good deal.  And if he should, during your absence, run away with the fifty thousand dollars?”

Daniel was a little shaken; but he remained firm.

“Oh!” he said, “there are still some honest people in the world.”

“Ah?” laughed the notary.

And, from the manner in which he shook his head, it was clearly seen that experience had made him very sceptical on that subject.

“If you would only listen to me,” he resumed, “I could prove to you”—­

But Daniel interrupted him, and said,—­

“I have no desire, sir, to change my mind; but, even if I should wish to do so, I cannot retract my word.  There are particular circumstances in this case which I cannot explain to you in so short a time.”

The notary raised his eyes to the ceiling, and said in a tone of great pity,—­

“At least, let me make him give you a deed of defeasance.”

“Very well, sir.”

This was done, but in such carefully guarded terms, that even the most exquisite susceptibility on the part of Maxime could not have been hurt.  It was five o’clock, when the power-of-attorney and the deed were signed, and the two friends left the worthy notary’s office.  It was too late now for Daniel to write to Henrietta to send him for that same evening the key to the little garden-gate; but he wrote to get it for the next evening.