Part 10 (1/2)
”As to my body, monsieur, that is for sale cheap”
”And souls are not dear in France,” said Merton
”Yes, monsieur; but the price varies”
”What would you say to--well, a thousand francs down and a thousand in three months?”
”If monsieur would explain”
I did not dislike his caution, but I still had a residue of doubt as to thetwo masters Merton had none He went on:
”Weand dangerous business”
”I had thought as much,” said Alphonse ”Would M le Capitaine explain? No doubt there are circumstances--”
”Precisely A woman has done what makes it necessary for us to recover a certain docuovernet two thousand francs and run meanwhile risks of a very serious nature”
”And my master?”
”Oh, he may lose his position You and I and madame may be worse off”
”As to my position,” I said, ”leave me out of the question We shall all take risks”
”Then I accept,” said Alphonse ”Monsieur has been most kind to my mother, and circumstances have always attracted me--monsieur will understand What am I to do?”
”You are to exaarde's villa by day and at night--to-night--and report to us to- the document ant, but of that ill speak e hear your report I have already ridden around the place I a you entirely”
”No,
Merton understood this queer fellow as I did not, for, as I sat wondering what he meant, my friend said quietly: ”No we have not told you where the papers are concealed nor what they are And you want to know?”
A sudden panic seeht and left, and then cried in a decisive ith open hands upraised as if to push away so: ”No, monsieur, no
Circumstances make it not to be desired”
From that moment I trusted the man ”Is that all, monsieur?” he said
”No I do not want you to act without knowing that we, all of us, are about to undertake what is against the law and alleys”
”I accept” He said it very quietly ”What other directions has uards? It is easy”