us show him a front as decided as his own.' "Daddy Gobseck had taken my room since I left the house, so as to have no neighbor; he had made a little grated window too in his door since then, and did not open until he had taken a look at me and saw who I was. "'Well,' said he, in his thin, flute notes, 'so your principal is selling his practice?' "'How did you know that?' said I; 'he has not spoken of it as yet except to me.' "The old man's lips were drawn in puckers, like a curtain, to either corner of his mouth, as a soundless smile bore a hard glance company. "'Nothing else would have brought you here,' he said drily, after a pause, which I spent in confusion. "'Listen to me, M. Gobseck,' I began, with such serenity as I could assume before the old man, who gazed at me with steady eyes. There was a clear light burning in them that disconcerted me. "He made a gesture as if to bid me 'Go on.' 'I know that it is not easy to work on your feelings, so I will not waste my eloquence on the attempt to put my position before you--I am a penniless clerk, with no one to look to but you, and no heart in the world but yours can form a clear idea of my probable future. Let us leave hearts out of the question. Business is business, and business is not carried on with sentimentality like romances. Now to the facts. My principal's practice is worth in his hands about twenty thousand francs per annum; in my hands, I think it would bring in forty thousand. He is willing to sell it for a hundred and fifty thousand francs. And _here_,' I said, striking my forehead, 'I feel that if you would lend me the purchase-money, I could clear it off in ten years' time.' "'Come, that is plain speaking,' said Daddy Gobseck, and he held out his hand and grasped mine. 'Nobody since I have been in business has stated the motives of his visit more clearly. Guarantees?' asked he, scanning me from head to foot. 'None to give,' he added after a pause, 'How old are you?' "'Twenty-five in ten days' time,' said I, 'or I could not open the matter.' "'Precisely.' "'Well?' "'It is possible.'