e firmly,
he went on,--

"But even if you were to give us what you propose, you would still have
eleven hundred thousand francs remaining!"

Catenac burst into a pleasant laugh. "You are jesting," said he.

"I can prove the correctness of my assertion;" and as he spoke, Mascarin
unlocked a drawer, and taking a small notebook from it, turned over the
pages, and leaving it open at a certain place, handed it to the lawyer.

"There," said he, "that is made up to December last, and shows precisely
how you stand financially. Twice, then, you have increased your funds.
These deposits you will find in an addenda at the end of the book."

Catenac started to his feet; all his calmness had now disappeared.

"Yes," he said, "I have just the sum you name; and I, for that very
reason, refuse to have anything further to do with your schemes. I have
an income of sixty thousand francs; that is to say, sixty thousand good
reasons for receiving no further risks. You envy me my good fortune, but
did we not all start penniless? I have taken care of my money, while
you have squandered yours. Hortebise has lost his patients, while I have
increased the number of my clients; and now you want me to tread the
dangerous road again. Not I; go your way, and leave me to go home."

Again he took up his hat, but a wave of the hand from Mascarin detained
him.

"Suppose," said he coldly, "that I told you that your assistance was
necessary to me."

"I should say so much the worse for you."

"But suppose I insist?"

"And how can you insist? We are both in the same boat, and sink or swim
together."

"Are you certain of that?"

"So certain that I repeat from this day I wash my hands of you."

"I am afraid you are in error."

"How so?"

"Because for twelve months past; I have given food and shelter to a girl
of the name of Clarisse. Do you by any chance know her?"

At the mention of this name, the lawyer started, as a man starts who,
walking peacefully along, suddenly sees a deadly serpent coiled across
his path.

"Clarisse," stammered he, "how did you know of her? who told you?"

But the sarcastic sneer upon the lips of his two confederates
wounded his pride so deeply, that in an instant he recovered his
self-possession.

"I am getting foolish," said he, "to ask these men how they learned my
secret. Do they not always work by infamous and underhand means?"

"You see I know all," remarked Mascarin, "for I foresaw the day would
come