Would not he, Duvillard, should occasion require it, testify that he, Barroux, had never taken a centime for himself?
Then, forgetting that he was speaking to a banker, and that he was Minister of Finances, he proceeded to express all his disgust of money.

Ah! what poisonous, murky, and defiling waters were those in which money-making went on! However, he repeated that he would chastise his insulters, and that a statement of the truth would suffice for the purpose.
Duvillard listened and looked at him.

And all at once the thought of Silviane came back, and took possession of the Baron, without any attempt on his part to drive it away.

He reflected that if Barroux had chosen to give him a helping hand when he had asked for it, Silviane would now have been at the Comedie Francaise, in which case the deplorable affair of the previous night would not have occurred; for he was beginning to regard himself as guilty in the matter; if he had only contented Silviane's whim she would never have dismissed him in so vile a fashion.
"You know, I owe you a grudge," he said, interrupting Barroux.
The other looked at him in astonishment.

"And why, pray ?" he asked.
"Why, because you never helped me in the matter of that friend of mine who wishes to make her _debut_ in 'Polyeucte.'" Barroux smiled, and with amiable condescension replied: "Ah! yes, Silviane d'Aulnay! But, my dear sir, it was Taboureau who put spokes in the wheel.