"Oh!" he muttered, "I believe I can trust to those men: they have still in their veins a few drops of that honest French blood which despises treachery. No matter," he added, as if on reflection; "I will take my precautions."
After this aside, he rose and looked around him. The room was full of adventurers, who drank or played at monte, and whose energetic faces stood out in the semi-obscurity of the room, which was scarce lighted by a smoky lamp. After a moment's reflection the monk boldly struck the table with his clenched fist, and shouted in a loud voice:
"Señores caballeros, I invite you to listen to me. I have, I fancy, an advantageous proposal to make to you."
The company turned their heads; those who were gambling for a moment abandoned their cards and dice; the drinkers alone kept in their hands the glasses they held; but all approached the monk, round whom they grouped themselves curiously.
"Caballeros," he continued, "if I am not mistaken, all present are gentlemen whom fortune has more or less ill-treated."
The adventurers, by an automatic movement of extraordinary regularity, bowed their heads in affirmation.
"If you wish it," he continued with an imperceptible smile, "I will undertake to repair the wrong by it done you."
The adventurers pricked up their ears.
"Speak, speak, señor padre!" they shouted with delight.
"What is the affair?" a man with a hang-dog face said, who stood in the front ranks.