"It may be. I am not thinking of building. In tine first place I have not the soldi."
"And if you had?" inquired Marzio.
"What nonsense! Besides, no one has. It is all done on credit, and the devil take the hindmost. But if I really had a million—eh! I know what I would do."
"Let us hear. I also know what I would do. Besta! What is the use of building castles in the air?"
"In the air, or not in the air, if I had a million, I know what I would do."
"I would have a newspaper," said Marzio. "Whew! how it would sting!"
"It would sting you, and bleed you into the bargain," returned the lawyer with some contempt. "No one makes mosey out of newspapers in these times. If I had money, I would be a deputy. With prudence there is much to be earned in the Chambers, and petitioners know that they must pay cash."
"It is certainly a career," assented the artist "But, as you say, it needs money for the first investment."
"Not so much as a million, though. With a good opening, and some knowledge of the law, a small sum would be enough."
"It is a career, as I said," repeated Marzio. "But five thousand francs would not give you an introduction to it."