"I say, that is very poor fun," gasped he.
"There is no fun in it, for such fun, when brought to the notice of a court of justice, goes by the ugly name of forgery, and forgery means a swinging heavy sentence." Gaston turned pale, and trembled from head to foot.
"Tried and sentenced," faltered he.

"No, I don't believe you, but I hold no honors and will turn up my cards." He quite forgot that he was in the public street, and was talking at the top of his shrill falsetto voice, and gesticulating violently.
"The poor old governor, I might have made him so happy, and, after all, I have only been a torment to him.

Ah, could I but begin once more; but then the cards are dealt, and I must go on with the game, and I have made a nice muddle of the whole thing before I am twenty years of age; but no criminal courts for me, no, the easiest way out of it is a pistol shot, for I am an honest man's son, and I will not bring more disgrace on him than I have already done." "Do you really mean what you say ?" asked Andre.
"Of course I do.

I can be firm enough sometimes." "Then we will not despair yet," answered the young painter.

"I think that we shall be able to settle this ugly business, but you cannot be too cautious.