Part 4 (1/2)
Theodore had an aunt of whom he had never as much as breathed a word
He had an aunt, and that aunt a concierge--_ipso facto_, if I may so express it, a woman of some substance, who, no doubt, would often have been only too pleased to extend hospitality to the nally befriended her nepheos which both reason and gratitude would cause her to invest in an old-established and substantial business run by a trustworthy and capable ent in a good quarter of Paris, which, with the help of a little capital, could be rendered highly lucrative and beneficial to all those, concerned
I deterive Theodore a piece of my mind and to insist upon an introduction to his aunt After which I begged the beautiful creature to proceed
”My father, Monsieur,” she continued, ”died three rated when I was afor a livelihood as best she could My mother died last year, Monsieur, and I have hard a hard life; and now it seeland and left it all to reatly interested in her story
”The first intio, when I had a letter fro me that my father, Jean Paul Bachelier--that was his na all his money, about one hundred thousand francs, to me”
”Yes, yes!” I murmured, for my throat felt parched and my eyes dim
Hundred thousand francs! Ye Gods!
”It seems,” she proceeded delish lawyers were to pay e of twenty-one Then the whole of the money was to be handed over to ainst the table or I would have fallen over backwards! This Godlike creature, to whom the sum of one hundred thousand francs was to be paid over when she ht sent inative!
”Proceed, Madenified callish, I took the letter to Mr Farewell, who is the English traveller for Madame Cecile, the entleman and wasover to England the very next day He offered to go and see the English lawyers forme back all particulars of my dear father's death and of my unexpected fortune”
”And,” said I, for she had paused a land on your behalf?”
”Yes, Monsieur He went and returned about a fortnight later He had seen the English lawyers, who confirood nehich was contained in their letter They took, it seereat fancy to Mr
Farewell, and told hi to live alone and needed a guardian to look after ested that I should make e of twenty-one Mr
Farewell told ht be somewhat inconvenient in his bachelor establishlish lawyers, who felt that no one wasthat he was English and so obviously uard!” I exclaiuarded outburst of fury
”Your pardon, Made that the lovely creature was gazing at me with eyes full of astonish Am I to understand, then, that you have made your home with this Mr Farewell?”
”Yes, Monsieur, at number sixty-five Rue des Pyramides”
”Is he a married man?” I asked casually
”He is a er, Monsieur”
”Middle-aged?”
”Quite elderly, Monsieur”
I could have screamed with joy I was not yet fortyof retiring from business--he is, as I said, a commercial traveller--in favour of his nephew, M
Adrien Cazales”
Once ainst the table The room swam round me One hundred thousand francs!--a lovely creature!--an unscrupulous er!--an equally dangerous young nephew I rose and tottered to theI flung it wide open--a thing I never do save at moood I returned to nity and presence of mind