e Spanish
loan."

"And pray," asked the baroness, "am I responsible for this loss?"

"Why not?"

"Is it my fault you have lost 700,000 francs?"

"Certainly it is not mine."

"Once for all, sir," replied the baroness sharply, "I tell you I will
not hear cash named; it is a style of language I never heard in the
house of my parents or in that of my first husband."

"Oh, I can well believe that, for neither of them was worth a penny."

"The better reason for my not being conversant with the slang of the
bank, which is here dinning in my ears from morning to night; that noise
of jingling crowns, which are constantly being counted and re-counted,
is odious to me. I only know one thing I dislike more, which is the
sound of your voice."

"Really?" said Danglars. "Well, this surprises me, for I thought you
took the liveliest interest in all my affairs!"

"I? What could put such an idea into your head?"

"Yourself."

"Ah?--what next?"

"Most assuredly."

"I should like to know upon what occasion?"

"Oh, mon Dieu, that is very easily done. Last February you were the
first who told me of the Haitian funds. You had dreamed that a ship had
entered the harbor at Havre, that this ship brought news that a
payment we had looked upon as lost was going to be made. I know how
clear-sighted your dreams are; I therefore purchased immediately as many
shares as I could of the Haitian debt, and I gained 400,000 francs by
it, of which 100,000 have been honestly paid to you. You spent it as you
pleased; that was your business. In March there was a question about a
grant to a railway. Three companies presented themselves, each offering
equal securities. You told me that your instinct,--and although you
pretend to know nothing about speculations, I think on the contrary,
that your comprehension is very clear upon certain affairs,--well, you
told me that your instinct led you to believe the grant would be given
to the company called the Southern. I bought two thirds of the shares
of that company; as you had foreseen, the shares trebled in value, and
I picked up a million, from which 250,000 francs were paid to you for
pin-money. How have you spent this 250,000 francs?--it is no business of
mine."

"When are you coming to the point?" cried the baroness, shivering with
anger and impatience.

"Patience, madame, I am coming to it."

"That's fortunate."

"In April you went to dine at the minister's. You heard a private
conversat