"'Keep your wine and I will keep my money.'
"'Just as you please,' laughed Vampa, and went away.
"Two days later I asked for food. A fine dinner was served. I paid a million and stilled my hunger. This continued three days longer, and when I finally counted the contents of my portfolio, I found I had only fifty thousand francs left. I considered what I should do with this sum, and fell asleep over my plans. When I awoke, I was on the road to Rome. When I suddenly looked at myself in a mirror I found to my horror that my hair had turned gray. Since that time I have always feared that I would never have sufficient to eat; and now you know the cause of my ravenous appetite."
"Yet I cannot understand why they should have wanted to torture you so. It must have been an act of revenge," said Carmen.
"You are mistaken," replied Larsagny, "I fear no one and every one esteems me; I—"
"One moment," interrupted Carmen, as she looked fixedly at the banker. "Why did you get frightened at the soiree recently, when the servant announced the Vicomte of Monte-Cristo? I thought you feared no one, baron?"
Larsagny stared at the young girl as if she had been a spectre. Carmen continued:
"I have not finished yet. In the evening I stood on the terrace and heard these words:
"'Monsieur de Larsagny, take care you do not learn my name too soon.'"
"Ah, you are spying on me," cried Larsagny angrily; "have a care or—"