I own that I have never been able to divest myself of my inbred dislike and distrust of people who contract debts which they are not able to pay.

The light manner in which the world is apt to view the relative positions of debtor and creditor is abhorrent to me.

If I promise to pay a man money, and fail to keep my promise, I am no better than a liar and a cheat.

That always has been, and always will be, _my_ view." He took her hand again as he made that strong declaration.

"There is another bond of sympathy between us," he said warmly; "you think as I do." Good Heavens, if Frau Meyer had told me the truth, what would happen when Madame Fontaine discovered that her promissory note was in the hands of a stranger--a man who would inexorably present it for payment on the day when it fell due?
I tried to persuade myself that Frau Meyer had _not_ told me the truth.