FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147  
148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   >>   >|  
ions of conscience, providing he, himself, had not been injured by it. Still, the young fellow did not allow his real feelings to appear on his face. First, it was not his business to tell M. Fortunat his opinion of him; and in the second place, he did not deem it an opportune moment for a declaration of his sentiments. So, when his employer paused, he exclaimed: "Well, we must outwit these scoundrels--for I'll join you, m'sieur; and I flatter myself that I can be very useful to you. Do you want the particulars of the viscount's past life? If so, I can furnish them. I know the brigand. He's married, as I told you before, and I'll find his wife for you in a few days. I don't know exactly where she lives, but she keeps a tobacco store, somewhere, and that's enough. She'll tell you how much he's a viscount. Ha! ha! Viscount just as much as I am--and no more. I can tell you the scrapes he has been in." "No doubt; but the most important thing is to know how he's living now, and on what!" "Not by honest work, I can tell you. But give me a little time, and I'll find out for sure. As soon as I can go home, change my clothes, and disguise myself, I'll start after him; and may I be hung, if I don't return with a complete report before Tuesday." A smile of satisfaction appeared on M. Fortunat's face. "Good, Victor!" he said, approvingly, "very good! I see that you will serve me with your usual zeal and intelligence. Rest assured that you will be rewarded as you have never been rewarded before. As long as you are engaged in this affair, you shall have ten francs a day; and I'll pay your board, your cab-hire, and all your expenses." This was a most liberal offer, and yet, far from seeming delighted, Chupin gravely shook his head. "You know how I value money, m'sieur," he began. "Too much, Victor, my boy, too much----" "Excuse me, it's because I have responsibilities, m'sieur. You know my establishment"--he spoke this word with a grandiloquent air--"you have seen my good mother--my expenses are heavy----" "In short, you don't think I offer you enough?" "On the contrary, sir--but you don't allow me to finish. I love money, don't I? But no matter, I don't want to be paid for this business. I don't want either my board or my expenses, not a penny--nothing. I'll serve you, but for my own sake, for my own pleasure--gratis." M. Fortunat could not restrain an exclamation of astonishment. Chupin, who was as eager for gain
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147  
148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
expenses
 

Fortunat

 

Victor

 

rewarded

 

Chupin

 
viscount
 
business
 

pleasure

 
assured
 

gratis


intelligence

 

francs

 
affair
 

engaged

 
grandiloquent
 

satisfaction

 
appeared
 
complete
 

report

 

Tuesday


exclamation

 

restrain

 

establishment

 

astonishment

 

approvingly

 

gravely

 

contrary

 

delighted

 

finish

 

mother


responsibilities

 
liberal
 

Excuse

 

matter

 

scoundrels

 
flatter
 

outwit

 
paused
 

exclaimed

 
brigand

married
 

furnish

 
particulars
 
employer
 

fellow

 

injured

 
conscience
 

providing

 
feelings
 

moment