due,"' added he, producing certain drafts bearing the Count's
signature, all protested the day before at the request of some of the
confraternity, who had probably made them over to him (Gobseck) at a
considerably reduced figure.

"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.'