"It's a tempting offer," admitted the adventurer rubbing his chin, reflectively; "but, you know, I was sometime getting out of——It has not been many years since I was in trouble and I don't want any more trouble if I can help it."
"What possible trouble can there be?" M. Perissard protested.
"Well, you know, even a lamb will bleat if you handle him roughly."
"Our little lambkins don't!" the older man as? sured him with an oily, paternal smile in which his confrère nobly seconded him. "They have a horror of all kinds of fuss and do net draw attentions to themselves if they can help it."
"The fear of a fuss is the beginning of wisdom!" rose from M. Merivel's diaphragm in oracular thunder.
"So there is nothing to be afraid of! Our head office is in Paris," resumed M. Perissard, "But I have come to Bordeaux to open a branch office of which M. Merivel will be temporary manager. In a little while, when you understand our methods thoroughly, he will go to Marseilles and leave you in charge. Then we will double your salary and increase your share of the profits to fifteen per cent!"
Laroque wavered a moment, then suddenly straightened up to his feet and held out his hand.
"It's a bargain!" he said.