Toto’s bosom swelled with pride.
“Besides,” he continued, “I would arrange matters so well that not a soul would think that I had done the trick.”
“The more I hear you speak, Chupin,” answered Tantaine, “the more I believe you are the lad I want, and I am sure that we shall make heaps of money together.”
“I am cock sure of that too.”
“You can use carpenters’ tools, I think you once told me?”
“Yes.”
“Well,” continued Tantaine, “let me tell you then that I know an old man with any amount of money, and there is a fellow whom he hates and detests, a young chap who ran off with the girl he loved.”
“The old bloke must have been jolly wild.”
“Well, to tell the truth, he wasn’t a bit pleased. Now it so happens that this gay young dog spends ten hours a day at least on that very scaffolding opposite to us. The old fellow, who has his head screwed on the right way, had the very same idea as yours, but he is too old and too stout to do the trick for himself; and, to cut the matter short, he would give five thousand francs to the persons who would carry out his idea. Just think, two thousand francs for a few cuts of a saw!”
The boy was violently agitated, but Tantaine pretended not to notice it.