“Tut, tut; never quarrel with the door open.”
Beaumarchef thanked Providence for sending this sudden reinforcement to his aid, and began in a tone of indignation,—
“Toto Chupin—”
“Stop! I have heard every word,” broke in Tantaine.
On hearing this, Toto felt that he had better make himself scarce; for though he hardly knew Mascarin, and utterly despised Beaumarchef, he trembled before the oily Tantaine, for in him he recognized a being who would stand no nonsense. He therefore began in an apologetic tone,—
“Just let me speak, sir; I only wanted—”
“Money, of course, and very natural too. Come, Beaumarchef, hand this worthy lad the hundred francs that he has so politely asked for.”
Beaumarchef was utterly stupefied, and was about to make some objection when he was struck by a signal which Toto did not perceive, and, drawing out his pocketbook, extracted a note which he offered to the lad. Toto glanced at the note, then at the faces of the two men, but was evidently afraid to take the money.
“Take the money,” said Tantaine. “If your information is not worth the money, I will have it back from you; come into the office, where we shall not be disturbed.”
Tantaine took a chair, and glancing at Toto, who stood before him twirling his cap leisurely, said,—