being overheard?" said the Spaniard,
now metamorphosed into a red-haired Englishman with blue spectacles, as
clean and prim as a Puritan going to meeting.

"Why, monsieur?" said Cerizet. "Who are you?"

"Mr. William Barker, a creditor of M. d'Estourny's; and I can prove to
you the necessity for keeping your doors closed if you wish it. We
know, monsieur, all about your connections with the Petit-Clauds, the
Cointets, and the Sechards of Angouleme----"

On hearing these words, Cerizet rushed to the door and shut it, flew
to another leading into a bedroom and bolted it; then he said to the
stranger:

"Speak lower, monsieur," and he studied the sham Englishman as he asked
him, "What do you want with me?"

"Dear me," said William Barker, "every one for himself in this world.
You had the money of that rascal d'Estourny.--Be quite easy, I have not
come to ask for it; but that scoundrel, who deserves hanging, between
you and me, gave me these bills, saying that there might be some chance
of recovering the money; and as I do not choose to prosecute in my own
name, he told me you would not refuse to back them."

Cerizet looked at the bills.

"But he is no longer at Frankfort," said he.

"I know it," replied Barker, "but he may still have been there at the
date of those bills----"

"I will not take the responsibility," said Cerizet.

"I do not ask such a sacrifice of you," replied Barker; "you may be
instructed to receive them. Endorse them, and I will undertake to
recover the money."

"I am surprised that d'Estourny should show so little confidence in me,"
said Cerizet.

"In his position," replied Barker, "you can hardly blame him for having
put his eggs in different baskets."

"Can you believe----" the little broker began, as he handed back to the
Englishman the bills of exchange formally accepted.

"I believe that you will take good care of his money," said Barker. "I
am sure of it! It is already on the green table of the Bourse."

"My fortune depends----"

"On your appearing to lose it," said Barker.

"Sir!" cried Cerizet.

"Look here, my dear Monsieur Cerizet," said Barker, coolly interrupting
him, "you will do me a service by facilitating this payment. Be so good
as to write me a letter in which you tell me that you are sending me
these bills receipted on d'Estourny's account, and that the collecting
officer is to regard the holder of the letter as the possessor of the
three bills."

"Will you give