“Ah!” he exclaimed.

Sarah waited.

“What do they offer?”

“Twelve thousand.”

“I will give you twelve——”

“No, you must give me fifteen.”

Chilly rose from his chair, red with anger. “So, mademoiselle, that is the way you treat your friends! Fifteen thousand francs! It is ridiculous—absurd.... Do you then take me for an imbecile?”

His attitude enraged Sarah.

“Yes,” she snapped, “I take you for just that—an imbecile!”

And she left the room, banging the door, leaving Chilly wearily staring after her.