“If you are interrupting me to say such nonsense,” replied Graff, “you might have held your peace. Let Marcel work on. The sooner he has finished the sooner he will be out of danger. Until that time, Baudoin, I entrust him to your care.”
“Do not be uneasy, Monsieur Graff. I will answer for him with my life. Besides, I am not trusting in myself alone. I am going to send for a companion, who in himself is worth a score of men. I need say no more. Trust to me.”
“Yes, my brave fellow, I will trust to you,” said Baradier.
“Very good,” said Baudoin, rubbing his hands. “Have you any message to send to M. Marcel?”
“Tell him to be very careful; give him our best love, and ask him to think of us at times.”
“By-the-bye, have you any money for the journey?”
“I have all I need, sir, thank you. Your servant, sir. Au revoir!”
Bowing, he left the room. Father and uncle remained behind, silent and grave, plunged in reverie. After a time Graff stood up and said—
“Nothing ill will happen. Of that I am sure. I feel it. You know I am never mistaken. In business, every time we have had a loss I have always had a very clear intuition of it beforehand. Be assured, Baradier, we shall come out of it without loss or damage.”
The anxious father replied—