"Té! I have some securities here which I had forgotten!" And taking a penknife, he proceeded to cut the stitches of his coat lining, from which he drew out some papers.
"See!" he said, as he held them out to me, "here are seven hundred thousand francs' worth of bills on London and Paris. You shall get them cashed."
"Very well, uncle," I replied. "And what do you want me to do with the money?"
"Oh, upon my word, that's your affair, my pichoun! You may be sure, now that you have come into your inheritance, I am not going to be troubled with such matters!"
"Well, at least advise me about them."
"But, my good fellow, that means that I am still to have all the bother about them—. After all," he continued, "keep the money if you like—it will do for my pocket money."
Thereupon he went to bed, I wished him good night, and was about to leave the room, when he called me back.
"Come here, André! Write, if you please, to the notary and ask him to come here to-morrow."
"Ah!" I replied, "you're coming round to that at last!"
"I am coming round to nothing whatever!" he exclaimed, in a most decided tone. "Only I want to know what has become of my camels! As you may guess, I intended to present them to the Zoological Society. I must have them found! Good night!"