CHAPTER LXXXVII.
THE TURTLES ARE CAGED.
Beausire, on entering the house, made a noise to attract Oliva’s attention, for, though he knew nothing about her later escapades, he knew enough about the ball at the Opera, and the morning at M. Mesmer’s, to make him fear letting her be seen by strangers. Accordingly, Oliva, hearing the dogs bark, looked out, and, seeing Beausire returning with two strangers, did not come to meet him as usual. Unfortunately the servant asked if he should call madame. The men rallied him about the lady whom he had concealed; he let them laugh, but did not offer to call her. They dined; then Beausire asked where they had met him before. “We are,” replied they, “friends of one of your associates in a little affair about the Portuguese embassy.”
Beausire turned pale.
“Ah!” said he: “and you came on your friend’s part?”
“Yes, dear M. Beausire, to ask for 10,000 francs.”
“Gentlemen,” replied Beausire, “you cannot think I have such a sum in the house.”
“Very likely not, monsieur; we do not ask for impossibilities. How much have you?”
“Not more than fifty or sixty louis.”
“We will take them to begin with.”
“I will go and fetch them,” said Beausire. But they did not choose to let him leave the room without them, so they caught hold of him by the coat, saying: