Loisel possessed eighteen thousand francs which his father had left him. He would borrow the
rest.
He did borrow, asking a thousand francs of one, five hundred of another, five louis here, three
louis there. He gave notes, took up ruinous obligations, dealt with usurers, and all the race of.
lenders. He compromised all the rest of his life, risked his signature without even knowing if he
could meet it; and, frightened by the pains yet to come, by the black misery which was about to