She was examining him with all her power of penetration.
“Not at all, I confess,” she replied. “But, if you are not one, how is it that you come to my house, without knowing me from this side of sole leather, to ask me a whole lot of questions, which I am fool enough to answer?”
“I told you I was a friend of M. Favoral.”
“Who’s that Favoral?”
“That’s M. Vincent’s real name, madame.”
She opened her eyes wide.
“You must be mistaken. I never heard him called any thing but Vincent.”
“It is because he had especial motives for concealing his personality. The money he spent here did not belong to him: he took it, he stole it, from the Mutual Credit Company where he was cashier, and where he left a deficit of twelve millions.”
Mme. Zelie stepped back as though she had trodden on a snake.
“It’s impossible!” she cried.