“Dere is no hope of dat,” said the Baron. “I cannot succeet in being de master, I am let such a tance as——”
“As a top,” Asie put in. “Well, you have made others dance, daddy, and the little slut has got you, and is making a fool of you.—Heaven is just!”
“Just?” said the Baron. “I hafe not sent for you to preach to me——”
“Pooh, my boy! A little moralizing breaks no bones. It is the salt of life to the like of us, as vice is to your bigots.—Come, have you been generous? You have paid her debts?”
“Ja,” said the Baron lamentably.
“That is well; and you have taken her things out of pawn, and that is better. But you must see that it is not enough. All this gives her no occupation, and these creatures love to cut a dash——”
“I shall hafe a surprise for her, Rue Saint-Georches—she knows dat,” said the Baron. “But I shall not be made a fool of.”
“Very well then, let her go.”
“I am only afrait dat she shall let me go!” cried the Baron.
“And we want our money’s worth, my boy,” replied Asie. “Listen to me. We have fleeced the public of some millions, my little friend? Twenty-five millions I am told you possess.”