“What do you want with me?” growled Chupin; “for you do want something, or you would not trouble yourself about such as I.”
It required all Blanche’s determination to repress a gesture of fright and of disgust; but, in a resolute tone, she replied:
“Yes, it is true that I have a favor to ask you.”
“Ah, ha! I supposed so.”
“A mere trifle which will cost you no trouble and for which you shall be well paid.”
She said this so carelessly that one would really have supposed the service was unimportant; but cleverly as she played her part, Chupin was not deceived.
“No one asks trifling services of a man like me,” he said coarsely.
“Since I have served the good cause, at the peril of my life, people seem to suppose that they have a right to come to me with their money in their hands, when they desire any dirty work done. It is true that I was well paid for that other job; but I would like to melt all the gold and pour it down the throats of those who gave it to me.
“Ah! I know what it costs the humble to listen to the words of the great! Go your way; and if you have any wickedness in your head, do it yourself!”
He shouldered his gun and was moving away, when Mme. Blanche said, coldly: