"The young man growled out something, in which the words 'Old scoundrel!' were audible. Daddy Gobseck did not move an eyebrow. He drew a pair of pistols out of a pigeon-hole, remarking coolly: "'As the insulted man, I fire first.' "'Maxime, you owe this gentleman an explanation,' cried the trembling Countess in a low voice. "'I had no intention of giving offence,' stammered Maxime. "'I am quite sure of that,' Gobseck answered calmly; 'you had no intention of meeting your bills, that was all.' "The Countess rose, bowed, and vanished, with a great dread gnawing her, I doubt not. M. de Trailles was bound to follow, but before he went he managed to say: "'If either of you gentlemen should forget himself, I will have his blood, or he will have mine.' "'Amen!' called Daddy Gobseck as he put his pistols back in their place; 'but a man must have blood in his veins though before he can risk it, my son, and you have nothing but mud in yours.' "When the door was closed, and the two vehicles had gone, Gobseck rose to his feet and began to prance about. "'I have the diamonds! I have the diamonds!' he cried again and again, 'the beautiful diamonds! such diamonds! and tolerably cheaply. Aha! aha! Werbrust and Gigonnet, you thought you had old Papa Gobseck! _Ego sum papa_! I am master of the lot of you! Paid! paid, principal and interest! How silly they will look to-night when I shall come out with this story between two games of dominoes!' "The dark glee, the savage ferocity aroused by the possession of a few water-white pebbles, set me shuddering. I was dumb with amazement. "'Aha! There you are, my boy!' said he. 'We will dine together. We will have some fun at your place, for I haven't a home of my own, and these restaurants, with their broths, and sauces, and wines, would poison the Devil himself.' "Something in my face suddenly brought back the usual cold, impassive expression to his. "'You don't understand it,' he said, and sitting down by the hearth, he put a tin saucepan full of milk on the brazier.--'Will you breakfast with me?' continued he. 'Perhaps there will be enough here for two.'