“Old Siméon.”
Bournef started with astonishment:
“What! Siméon? Siméon Diodokis?”
“Yes. Siméon Diodokis, Essarès Bey’s secretary.”
“He? Oh, I’ll make him pay for this, the blackguard! But no, it’s impossible.”
“What makes you say that it’s impossible?’”
“Why, because . . .”
He stopped and thought for some time, no doubt to convince himself that there was no harm in speaking. Then he finished his sentence:
“Because old Siméon was on our side.”
“What’s that you say?” exclaimed Patrice, whose turn it was to be surprised.