‘Yes, I think so,’ replied Charcot. ‘I don’t see that there is much to fear. No one suspects us, and it is not worth while giving up our business, such as it is.’
‘You feel sure that your visit to Russia in connection with the bill is not known?’
‘Perfectly sure. My wife and I managed the business too cleverly for suspicion to be directed against us.’
‘But you mustn’t forget that Michael Danevitch has got the matter in hand.’
Madame Charcot broke into a mocking laugh, as she exclaimed:
‘Pooh! There is nothing to fear from Danevitch. He is a very much overrated man. All the wonderful stories that one hears about him are, I believe, invented by himself; any way, I am not afraid of him. It seems to me that it was impossible for anyone to get a clue in Russia. No, mon frère; the business has been managed too cleverly, and unless we give ourselves away we are perfectly safe.’
‘I am not so sure of that,’ answered the stranger musingly.
‘But you’ve not heard or seen anything to cause you alarm, have you?’ asked Charcot.
‘No, no, not at all,’ said the stranger, pulling his moustache and looking grave; ‘but one never knows.’
‘You are surely in a despondent mood, cher frère. The dinner must have disagreed with you,’ madame remarked banteringly.