“Hold your tongue, madame,” said Beausire.
“Yes,” continued the blue domino, “where you were on the point of killing this poor lady, but stopped at the sight of some louis.”
“Oh, I see; you and she have an understanding together.”
“How can you say such a thing?” cried Oliva.
“And if it were so,” said the stranger, “it is all for your benefit.”
“For my benefit! that would be curious.”
“I will prove to you that your presence here is as hurtful as your absence would be profitable. You are a member of a certain academy, not the Académie Française, but in the Rue du Pôt au Fer, in the second story, is it not, my dear M. Beausire?”
“Hush!” said Beausire.
The blue domino drew out his watch, which was studded with diamonds that made Beausire’s eyes water to look at them. “Well!” continued he, “in a quarter of an hour they are going to discuss there a little project, by which, they hope to secure 2,000,000 francs among the twelve members, of whom you are one, M. Beausire.”
“And you must be another; if you are not——”