"Certainly; did you not understand?"
"Why do you not tell me that you wish to go to the Bourse?"
Laisangy was annoyed. He saw that Carmen was on the qui vive, and Carmen said to herself: "What does this mean? He is lying, and some infernal machination is on foot. I must learn what it is."
She replied more gently:
"But I care little about these matters; the Bourse does not interest me. At what hour did you say you might be called away?"
"About midnight."
"Very good. Then you would like me, I suppose, to be very anxious about you, and urge you to withdraw?"
"Precisely!" answered the banker, much pleased. "Ah, Carmen, how well you understand me. Had you chosen, we two would have governed France!"
"Not I!" answered Carmen, abruptly. "We are companions, not accomplices. I do not understand you, and I do not propose to aid you in your infamy."
At this word Laisangy started, and thus confirmed the suspicions of Carmen, who was watching him.