“Elodie keeps everything for herself,” said Baron Hulot. “Those Chardins are a blackguard crew.”
“Will you come home to us?”
“Oh, no, no!” cried the old man. “I would rather go to America.”
“Adeline is on the scent.”
“Oh, if only some one would pay my debts!” said the Baron, with a suspicious look, “for Samanon is after me.”
“We have not paid up the arrears yet; your son still owes a hundred thousand francs.”
“Poor boy!”
“And your pension will not be free before seven or eight months.—If you will wait a minute, I have two thousand francs here.”
The Baron held out his hand with fearful avidity.
“Give it me, Lisbeth, and may God reward you! Give it me; I know where to go.”