The Duke then rose from his seat, and took a highly finished gun from a
cupboard.

"I have been very much pleased with you for some time past," said he,
"and this is a sign of my satisfaction. The gamekeeper has brought in a
thoroughly trained dog, which will also be yours. Shoot as much as you
like, and, as you cannot go about without money in your pocket, take
this, but be careful of it; for remember that extravagance on your part
will procrastinate the day upon which our descendants will resume their
proper station in the world."

The Duke spoke for some time longer, but his son paid no heed to his
words, and was too much astonished to accept the six five-franc pieces
which his father tendered to him.

"I suppose," said the Duke at last in angry accents, "that you will have
the grace to thank me."

"You will find that I am not ungrateful," stammered Norbert, aroused by
this reproach.

The Duke turned away impatiently.

"What has the boy got into his head now?" muttered he.

It was owing to the advice of the priest of Bevron that the Duke had
acted as he had done; but this indulgence came too late, for Norbert's
detestation of his tyrant was too deeply buried in his heart to be
easily eradicated.