Velletri laughed maliciously.
"The Vicomte of Talizac," he said, weighing each word, "is no child any more, and not influenced either in a bad or good way by any of his companions. If I have apparently taken part in his dissipations, it was in the first place to prevent something worse and to shield the honor of the Fougereuse, which was often at stake."
"You, count—but I really do not understand," stammered the marquis.
"It seems to me," interrupted the Italian, sharply, "that we are swerving from the real object of our interview. Let me speak, marquis. A powerful society, with which I have the honor of being associated, has had its eye on you for a long time. Your influence, your opinions and your family connections are such that the society hopes to have in you a useful auxiliary, and I have therefore received the order to make arrangements with you. The society—"
"You are no doubt speaking of the Society of Jesus?" interrupted the marquis.
Velletri bowed and continued:
"Thanks to the assistance of the pious fathers, his majesty has foregone his original intention of stripping the Vicomte de Talizac of all his honors—"
The marquis made a gesture of astonishment, and Velletri went on:
"The society is even ready to give you the means to put your shattered fortune on a firm basis again."
"And the conditions?" stammered Fougereuse hoarsely.