en thousand
francs to put them there, and if neither Mademoiselle Marguerite nor M.
Ferailleur has the amount--ah, well! I'll advance--well, at least
five thousand--without charging them any commission. I'll even pay the
expenses out of my own pocket, if necessary. Ah, my fine fellows, you've
laughed too soon. In a week's time we'll see who laughs last."

He paused, for Victor Chupin, who had lingered behind to pay the driver,
had just entered the room. "You gave me twenty francs, m'sieur," he
remarked to his employer. "I paid the driver four francs and five sous,
here's the change."

"Keep it yourself, Victor," said M. Fortunat.

What! keep fifteen francs and fifteen sous? Under any other
circumstances such unusual generosity would have drawn a grimace of
satisfaction from young Chupin. But to-day he did not even smile; he
slipped the money carelessly into his pocket, and scarcely deigned to
say "thanks," in the coldest possible tone.

Absorbed in thought, M. Fortunat did not remark this little
circumstance. "We have them, Victor," he resumed. "I told you that
Valorsay and Coralth should pay me for their treason. Vengeance is near.
Read this letter." Victor read it slowly, and as soon as he had finished
his employer ejaculated, "Well?"

But Chupin was not a person to give advice lightly. "Excuse me,
m'sieur," said he, "but in order to answer you, I must have some
knowledge of the affair. I only know what you've told me--which is
little enough--and what I've guessed. In fact, I know nothing at all."

M. Fortunat reflected for a moment. "You are right, Victor," he said, at
last. "So far the explanation I gave you was all that was necessary; but
now that I expect more important services from you, I ought to tell
you the whole truth, or at least all I know about the affair. This will
prove my great confidence in you." Whereupon, he acquainted Chupin with
everything he knew concerning the history of M. de Chalusse, the Marquis
de Valorsay, and Mademoiselle Marguerite.

However, if he expected these disclosures to elevate him in his
subordinate's estimation he was greatly mistaken. Chupin had sufficient
experience and common sense to read his master's character and discern
his motives. He saw plainly enough that this honest impulse on M.
Fortunat's part came from disappointed avarice and wounded vanity, and
that the agent would have allowed the Marquis de Valorsay to carry out
his infamous scheme without any compunct