"And you are not reckoning on anything?"
"I have one hope left: I have written to one of my relations, imploring him to send me something. I shall have his answer to-day. It is my last chance."
"And, if you have no answer, you have doubtless made up your mind, this very evening, to . . ."
"Yes, sir."
This was said quite plainly and simply.
Sernine burst out laughing:
"Bless my soul, what a queer young man you are! And full of artless conviction, too! Come and see me again next year, will you? We will talk about all this . . . it's so curious, so interesting . . . and, above all, so funny! . . . Ha, ha, ha, ha!"
And, shaking with laughter, with affected bows and gestures, he showed him the door.
"Philippe," he said, admitting the hotel-servant, "did you hear?"
"Yes, governor."