“Well, go on.”
“Grégoire had the money in her keeping, four million francs. It’s on board the barge. We’ll go there together and I’ll count you out the first million.”
“You say those millions are on board the barge?”
“Yes.”
“And there are four of those millions?”
“Yes.”
“I won’t accept any of them in payment.”
“Why not? You must be mad!”
“Why not? Because you can’t pay a man with what already belongs to him.”
“What’s that you’re saying?” cried Siméon, in dismay.