"Ring, if you choose, my good fellow. There will then be a nice scandal!"
The banker's hand, even then on the bell, dropped at his side.
"Ah! I see you do not care for witnesses!"
Laisangy opened his lips to speak.
"And you are right, perhaps. Napoleon, who knew the world, said, 'It is always best to wash your dirty linen at home!' and we have—you and I—a tremendous wash on hand!"
Laisangy did not move; his eyes were fixed on the face of this man, to whom he could not give a name. He finally managed to say:
"I am not fond of mysteries. Who are you?"
"You do not know me, then?"
Fagiano laughed, and in this laugh was a certain ferocity.