—Tanié had a strong will and an entrepreneurial spirit. He did not tarry in making himself known. He joined the sovereign council of the Cape. He distinguished himself by his wisdom and equity. He had no ambitions to great fortune; all he wanted was a quick and an honest one. Each year he sent a portion of it to Madame Reymer. He reached his goal… somewhere between nine and ten years; no, I do not believe he was absent any longer than that… to present his lover with a small wallet containing the product of his work and virtue… and lucky for Tanié, it was just at the moment when she had left the last of his successors.
—The last?
—Yes.
—So there were several?
—Assuredly.
—Go on, go on.
—But perhaps I have nothing left to tell you that you do not already know better than I.
—What does it matter? Go on anyway.
—Madame Reymer and Tanié occupied a rather pretty building on rue Sainte- Marguerite, at my doorstep. I took a great liking to Tanié and frequented his house, which was, if not opulent, at least luxurious.
—I can assure you, without having done Reymer´s accounting, that she had an income of over 15,000 pounds before Tanié returned.