"Yes," nodded Laroque. M. Perissard smiled.
"When I received your letter it struck me that you were not exactly rolling in money," he said with ponderous playfulness.
"I wasn't—exactly!" laughed the young man.
"So I thought it was well to send you a little on account," continued M. Perissard.
"And supposing I had put the money in my pocket and remained in South America?"
"I should have lost my thousand francs. But I wasn't afraid of that," his prospective employer assured him. "I knew you too well, Laroque. I knew you to be too—too——"
"Too honest?" grinned the adventurer.
"Too intelligent," corrected M. Perissard, "to do such a foolish thing. What are a thousand francs," with an expressive sweep of his arm, "in the position I am going to offer you!"
"As good as that, eh?" There was an eager gleam in his eyes.
"Ask M. Merivel!" said the senior partner bowing toward his friend.