At the expiration of about an hour, the door of the room opened, and a man appeared on the threshold, who, perceiving that neither Bruno nor Ali noticed him, gave an affected cough.
Bruno turned round and perceived Paolo Tomassi.
“Ah! is that you, brigadier?” said he, smiling; “it is a pleasure to send for you—you have not kept us waiting long.”
“Why, no,” replied the brigadier, “they met me on the road about a quarter of an hour ago as I was bringing up my party, and they said that you wanted to see me.”
“It is true,” said Bruno; “I wanted to show you that I am a man of my word.”
“Zounds, I know that well enough,” said the brigadier.
“And as I promised that you should receive the three thousand ducats in question,” said Bruno, “I wish to keep my word.”
“Perdition!” said the brigadier, with great energy.
“What do you mean, comrade?” said Bruno.
“I mean,” said the brigadier, “that I would rather gain three thousand ducats in any other manner—in the lottery, for instance.”