"'That is possible.'

"'If there were no spendthrifts, what would become of you? The pair
of us are like soul and body.'

"'Precisely so.'

"'Come, now, give us your hand, Grandaddy Gobseck, and be magnanimous
if this is "true" and "possible" and "precisely so."'

"'You come to me,' the usurer answered coldly, 'because Girard,
Palma, Werbrust, and Gigonnet are full up of your paper; they are
offering it at a loss of fifty per cent; and as it is likely they only
gave you half the figure on the face of the bills, they are not worth
five-and-twenty per cent of their supposed value. I am your most
obedient! Can I in common decency lend a stiver to a man who owes
thirty thousand francs, and has not one farthing?' Gobseck continued.
'The day before yesterday you lost ten thousand francs at a ball at
the Baron de Nucingen's.'

"'Sir,' said the Count, with rare impudence, 'my affairs are no
concern of yours,' and he looked the old man up and down. 'A man has
no debts till payment is due.'

"'True.'

"'My bills will be duly met.'

"'That is possible.'