ided for in the
same manner. "These people," muttered he, "seem to keep a matrimonial
agency as well as a servants' registry office!"

"All that is left, then," said the Marquis, "is to arrange the--shall I
call it the commission?"

"I was about to come to that," returned Mascarin.

"Well, I will give you a fourth of the dowry, and on the day of my
marriage will hand you a cheque for that amount."

Paul now imagined that he saw how matters worked. "If I marry Flavia,"
thought he, "I shall have to share her dowry with these highly
respectable gentlemen."

The offer made by the Marquis did not, however, seem to please Mascarin.
"That is not what we want," said he.

"No,--well, must I give you more? Say how much."

Mascarin shook his head.

"Well then, I will give you a third; it is not worth while to give you
more."

"No, no; I would not take half, nor even the whole of the dowry. You may
keep that as well as what you owe us."

"Well, but tell me what you _do_ want."

"I will do so," answered Mascarin, adjusting his spectacles carefully;
"but before doing so, I feel that I must give you a short account of the
rise and progress of this association."

At this statement Hortebise and Catenac sprang to their feet in surprise
and terror. "Are you mad?" said they at length, with one voice.

Mascarin shrugged his shoulders.

"Not yet," answered he gently, "and I beg that you will permit me to go
on."

"But surely we have some voice in the matter," faltered Catenac.

"That is enough," exclaimed Mascarin angrily, "Am not I the head of this
association? Do you think," he continued in tones of deep sarcasm, "that
we cannot speak openly before the Marquis?"

Hortebise and the lawyer resignedly resumed their seats. Croisenois
thought that a word from him might reassure them.

"Among honest men--" began he.

"We are not honest men," interrupted Mascarin. "Sir," added he in a
severe tone, "nor are you either."

This plain speaking brought a bright flush to the face of the Marquis,
who had half a mind to be angry, but policy restrained him, and he
affected to look on the matter as a joke. "Your joke is a little
personal," said he.

But Mascarin took no heed of his remark. "Listen to me," said he, "for
we have no time to waste, and do you," he added, turning to Paul, "pay
the greatest attention."

A moment of perfect silence ensued, broken only by the hum of voices in
the outer office.

"Marquis," said Masc