Part 8 (1/2)
With that I left him, Sir, to walk away or stay as he pleased As for me, I went quickly down the street I felt that the situation was absolutely perfect; to have spoken another wordhow soon the proprietor of that huin to have doubts as to the identity of the private secretary of M le Duc d'Otrante So I was best out of the way
3
The very next day M le Marquis de Firmin-Latour called upon me at my office in the Rue Daunou Theodore let hi that struck hty arded the hunificently dressed, I reen coat was of the finest cloth and the most perfect cut I had ever seen His kerseyloves, he carried a muff of priceless zibeline, and in his cravat there was a diamond the size of a broad bean
He also carried a old-riesture of supreme affectation, he raised to his eye
”Now, M Hector Ratichon,” he said abruptly, ”perhaps you will be good enough to explain”
I had risen when he entered But now I sat down again and coolly pointed to the best chair in the rooive yourself the trouble to sit down, M le Marquis?” I riposted blandly
He called me names--rude names! but I took no notice of thatand he sat down
”Now!” he said once more
”What is it you desire to know, M le Marquis?” I queried
”Why you interfered in ht?”
”Do you complain?” I asked
”No,” he admitted reluctantly, ”but I don't understand your object”
”My object was to serve you then,” I rejoined quietly, ”and later”
”What do you mean by 'later'?”
”To-day,” I replied, ”to-morrohenever your present position becomes absolutely unendurable”
”It is that now,” he said with a savage oath
”I thought as much,” was my curt comment
”And do you mean to assert,” he went on more earnestly, ”that you can find a way out of it?”
”If you desire it--yes!” I said
”How?”
He drew his chair nearer to my desk, and I leaned forward, with er-tips of one hand in contact with those of the other
”Let us begin by reviewing the situation, shall we, Monsieur?” I began