“Oh! very well. Since your mind is made up, I will second you; but of course you won’t reproach me for leading you on.”
“No, no! On the contrary, I beg you to assist me, and to help me to conceal this intrigue from my wife’s eyes.”
“Don’t be alarmed—leave all that to me. I will answer for all. When will you call on Madame de Géran?”
“This evening. They play cards there, of course?”
“Yes, and for rather high stakes.”
“The devil! The fact is that I haven’t any money. That party drained me dry.”
“It is very easy to obtain some. Consols are at a very high premium. Sell. They cannot fail to drop before long; then, as we shall have speculated in something else, and you will probably be in funds, you can buy in again. You see, it is a good thing to do from a business standpoint.”
“True, you are right. But the consols are in my wife’s name.”
“Can’t you get her to sign by telling her that you are engaged in a magnificent operation?”
“Oh, yes! she will sign, I am sure; she’ll sign whatever I want her to.”